Amnesty International USA |Take Action

President Obama and Congress: Respect Human Rights and Counter Terror With Justice

Targeting: The U.S. House, The U.S. Senate and The President of the United States

Sponsored by: Amnesty International USA

President Obama and a number of members of Congress have resisted full accountability for torture, and have endorsed indefinite detention and unfair military commissions. Further, loopholes for torture and abuse remain and U.S. detentions at Bagram and other facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq do not meet human rights standards.

The U.S. government is required by law to end human rights violations and ensure accountability for them. Human rights violations are immoral, illegal and-according to military and intelligence experts-ineffective and counterproductive. There is an alternative: call on President Obama and Congress to respect human rights, follow the law and counter terror with justice.

Sign the Letter

Counter terror with justice

Dear Mr. President and Representatives,

I welcomed President Obama's executive orders to close Guantanamo and end the use of torture. Further, I welcome the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to investigate a number of cases of detainee abuse as a positive step toward accountability. However, I am deeply concerned that human rights violations -- and impunity for human rights violations -- continue. This in spite of the fact that human rights violations are immoral, illegal and -- according to military and intelligence experts -- ineffective and counterproductive.

There is an alternative. I am writing to urge you to respect human rights, follow the law and counter terror with justice:

- Ensure accountability for torture and abuse, as required by law. Set up or support an independent commission of inquiry to investigate torture and other human rights violations committed by the U.S. government in the name of countering terrorism; ensure that all those who break the law are prosecuted; and ensure redress and remedy to victims;

- Reject indefinite detention and unfair military commissions. Guantanamo detainees must either be charged with a crime and fairly tried in U.S. federal court, without recourse to the death penalty, or be released, to countries where their human rights will be respected;

- Bring U.S. detentions at Bagram and other U.S. facilities in Afghanistan and Iraq into compliance with international law and human rights standards;

- Close all possible loopholes for torture and other ill-treatment, and end any use of rendition and secret detention by or on behalf of the U.S. authorities anywhere.

The U.S. government is required by law to respect human rights and to ensure accountability for human rights violations. I call on you to follow the law.

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Samantha Treadwell Magnolia, TX

Sent letter to Kevin Brady , Michael McCaul , Barack Obama , Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn

Nov 20
Jennifer Korducki Chicago, IL

Sent letter to Danny Davis , Dick Durbin , Barack Obama and Roland Burris

Nov 19
Michael Lambright Goleta, CA

Sent letter to Lois Capps , Elton Gallegly , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer and Barack Obama

Nov 15
Harvey Sugar Montgomery Village, MD

Sent letter to Barack Obama , Ben Cardin , Barbara Mikulski , Chris Van Hollen and Donna Edwards

Nov 15
Catherine Ritlaw Kingman, AZ

Sent letter to Trent Franks , John McCain , Jon Kyl and Barack Obama

Nov 15
Cynthia Johnson Glen Ridge, NJ

Sent letter to Bill Pascrell , Donald Payne , Barack Obama , Frank Lautenberg and Bob Menendez

Nov 15
Julie Goldstein Columbia, MO

Sent letter to Barack Obama , Kit Bond , Claire McCaskill and Blaine Luetkemeyer

Nov 09
Josh Allen Arlington Heights, IL

Sent letter to Melissa Bean , Mark Kirk , Dick Durbin , Barack Obama and Roland Burris

Nov 07
Katie Soqui Nipomo, CA

Sent letter to Lois Capps , Kevin McCarthy , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer and Barack Obama

Nov 06
Mandi Traut Saratoga, CA

Sent letter to Anna Eshoo , Mike Honda , Dianne Feinstein , Barbara Boxer and Barack Obama

Nov 06