For Immediate Release:
Friday, December 11, 2009
National Religious Campaign Against Torture Tells Holder, “Release OPR Report Now!”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In response to the delayed release of the report from the Office of Professional Responsibility on the conduct of lawyers at the Office of Legal Counsel between 2001 and 2008, the National Religious Campaign Against Torture has sent a letter, the text of which is included at the bottom of this release, to Attorney General Holder urging him to immediately make the report public. The letter states:
The delay in the issuance of the report jeopardizes the admirable leadership the Administration has shown in calling for transparency in government and in ending U.S.-sponsored torture once and for all. Release of the OPR report is not like release of the photographs of torture; release of the OPR report will not imperil the safety of our troops or encourage new recruits for the terrorists. Its effect will be exactly the opposite. Release of the OPR report will demonstrate the integrity of our government processes.”
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The National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT) is a growing membership organization committed to ending U.S.-sponsored torture, and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Since its formation in January 2006, more than 260 religious groups have joined NRCAT, including representatives from the Roman Catholic, evangelical Christian, mainline Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Quaker, Orthodox Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Baha’i, Buddhist, and Sikh communities. Members include national denominations and faith groups, regional organizations and local congregations.
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The following is the text of the letter calling on Attorney General Holder to release the OPR report immediately:
December 11, 2009
The Honorable Eric Holder
Attorney General
U.S. Department of Justice
Washington, D.C.
Dear Mr. Attorney General:
The National Religious Campaign Against Torture, an interfaith organization of over 260 member organizations, strongly urges you to immediately make public the report of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) on the conduct of Justice Department Attorneys who authored the memos authorizing the use of torture during detainee interrogations.
You testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee that the OPR report would be released by the end of November. It is now almost the middle of December. The delay in the issuance of the report jeopardizes the admirable leadership the Administration has shown in calling for transparency in government and in ending U.S.-sponsored torture once and for all. Release of the OPR report is not like release of the photographs of torture; release of the OPR report will not imperil the safety of our troops or encourage new recruits for the terrorists. Its effect will be exactly the opposite. Release of the OPR report will demonstrate the integrity of our government processes.
We urge you to release the OPR report immediately.
Sincerely,
Linda J. Gustitus, President
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director
