Since January 2006, the more than 300 religious organizations comprising the National Religious Campaign Against Torture have worked together to end U.S.-sponsored torture. During 2008, the religious community advocated for a Presidential Executive Order ending torture, and, on January 22, 2009 President Obama issued an Executive Order halting torture.

Now the task is to make sure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again. To accomplish this goal, our nation needs to put safeguards in place to prevent its recurrence. We will better understand what safeguards are needed if we have a comprehensive understanding of what happened – who was tortured, why they were tortured, and who ordered the torture. As a nation we need the answers to those questions.

Therefore, NRCAT is calling for a Commission of Inquiry to investigate U.S. torture policies and practices. To bolster this call, we are asking you and other people of faith to endorse the statement "U.S.-Sponsored Torture: A Call for a Commission of Inquiry."

Endorse the call
for a
Commission of Inquiry 

NRCAT is also asking religious institutions and organizations to endorse, as well.

Urge your
congregation/organization
to endorse 

As the religious community made a difference in encouraging the President to halt torture, we now must urge our leaders to create a Commission of Inquiry to help ensure that U.S.-sponsored torture never happens again.

Read more information about this initiative, including other ways you and your congregation can help to secure a Commission of Inquiry.

Since December 2007, NRCAT has also called for criminal investigations.

Read NRCAT's statement calling for a criminal investigation and a letter to Attorney General Holder.

Information about what other human rights groups are doing to obtain accountability for torture.

Articles on a Commission of Inquiry and criminal investigations.