June 2010
1-56432-650-0
“No Questions Asked”
Intelligence Cooperation with Countries that Torture
Executive Summary ............................................................................................................ 1
Background........................................................................................................................ 5
International Law on Torture .................................................................................................. 7
The obligation to prevent and punish torture ...................................................................9
Torture material as evidence ......................................................................................... 10
Torture material as intelligence ..................................................................................... 12
Torture and Counterterrorism Policy .................................................................................... 14
“Ticking bomb” scenario ............................................................................................... 15
“No questions asked” ................................................................................................... 19
United Kingdom ............................................................................................................... 22
Intelligence Cooperation ..................................................................................................... 23
Guidelines ....................................................................................................................26
Use of Torture Material as Intelligence ................................................................................. 27
Torture Evidence and the Burden of Proof ............................................................................ 30
Oversight and Accountability............................................................................................... 32
Germany .......................................................................................................................... 34
Intelligence Cooperation ..................................................................................................... 36
Guidelines .................................................................................................................... 37
Use of Torture Material as Intelligence ................................................................................. 38
Use of Torture Material as Evidence ..................................................................................... 39
Burden of proof ............................................................................................................. 41
Oversight and Accountability............................................................................................... 43
France .............................................................................................................................. 44
Intelligence Cooperation ..................................................................................................... 45
Guidelines ....................................................................................................................46
Use of Torture Material by the Judiciary ...............................................................................48
Use of the fruit of the poisoned tree ..............................................................................49
Use of torture evidence at trial against the victims of the abuse .................................... 51