| Chapter Fourteen of Pax Americana: The Military Industrial Complex and the War On Terror by Danny Quintana |
| Interrogation, Past, Present and Future |
Well, that is certainly one way of obtaining information.
It is easy to forget history during times of national hysteria and terror acts of violence. But our legal system has its’ roots deeply entrenched in
a period of enlightenment. Prior to the United States Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishments”
governments throughout the world used interrogation techniques that were pretty gruesome. As Erin Lestikow, Katie O'Fallon, and Lori
Patterson observed,
a period of enlightenment. Prior to the United States Constitution’s Eighth Amendment prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishments”
governments throughout the world used interrogation techniques that were pretty gruesome. As Erin Lestikow, Katie O'Fallon, and Lori
Patterson observed,
Have trouble walking? You won’t have to worry about it after the inquisitor or torturer uses the “boots”. A question is asked and if the answer
is not what is desired, a hammer comes down on the wedges inserted into the boots. After an interrogation using the boots, the victim never
walked again. But that really did not matter since after the victims of this torture would often be dragged off to be executed. 5 The Branks or
Scold Bridle, above left, was a particularly interesting solution to a woman with a nasty disposition. Since women’s rights were not big in the
Middle Ages, humiliating them in public was not considered in bad taste. The man was not only the master of the house, if the woman was too
outspoken or disturbed the public peace, she could be forced to wear these iron masks. PMS was not diagnosed in those days. Fortunately
today, there is divorce to get couples out of abusive relationship. And any protest to this treatment could only make things worse for women.
is not what is desired, a hammer comes down on the wedges inserted into the boots. After an interrogation using the boots, the victim never
walked again. But that really did not matter since after the victims of this torture would often be dragged off to be executed. 5 The Branks or
Scold Bridle, above left, was a particularly interesting solution to a woman with a nasty disposition. Since women’s rights were not big in the
Middle Ages, humiliating them in public was not considered in bad taste. The man was not only the master of the house, if the woman was too
outspoken or disturbed the public peace, she could be forced to wear these iron masks. PMS was not diagnosed in those days. Fortunately
today, there is divorce to get couples out of abusive relationship. And any protest to this treatment could only make things worse for women.
There were several water tortures that were used to determine if one was in fact a witch. These tortures were particularly bizarre.Interrogation
and torture could only give you so many responses before the alleged witch, non-converted religious individual or some other poor soul wend
and died on you. The practice of tying the victim up with her hands and feet together and throwing them in a pond presented an impossible
situation. The alleged witch proved she was a witch if she floated. Then she would be tortured and often burned at the stake. If she drowned,
she was innocent. 8 The Ducking Stool was another method to keep the ladies “in line”. If a woman was a scold, a suspected witch, or just a
difficult free thinker, she would be tied to a chair and dunked in the local river. 9 The less amusing forms of interrogation were the Heretic’s
Fork. 10
and torture could only give you so many responses before the alleged witch, non-converted religious individual or some other poor soul wend
and died on you. The practice of tying the victim up with her hands and feet together and throwing them in a pond presented an impossible
situation. The alleged witch proved she was a witch if she floated. Then she would be tortured and often burned at the stake. If she drowned,
she was innocent. 8 The Ducking Stool was another method to keep the ladies “in line”. If a woman was a scold, a suspected witch, or just a
difficult free thinker, she would be tied to a chair and dunked in the local river. 9 The less amusing forms of interrogation were the Heretic’s
Fork. 10
“During the Elizabethan times crimes were treated as we would treat a murder
today. Stretching, burning, beating the body, and suffocating a person with water
were the most common ways to torture a person. The purpose of torture was to
break the will of the victim and to dehumanize him or her. The intent was also to
punish, obtain information, extract a confession from the victim or a third party,
or to intimidate the victim and others.” 1Europeans during the Middle Ages up
until the 1800’s, had perfected torture to a fine science. The instruments of
torture were devices so cruel, from the safe distance of time, we can only
imagine the screams of the victims. When you were asked to sit down and start
talking during the Middle Ages, you knew it was going to be a very bad day. The
sharp spikes of the interrogation chair was just the beginning. According to the
Historical Torture Museum:
today. Stretching, burning, beating the body, and suffocating a person with water
were the most common ways to torture a person. The purpose of torture was to
break the will of the victim and to dehumanize him or her. The intent was also to
punish, obtain information, extract a confession from the victim or a third party,
or to intimidate the victim and others.” 1Europeans during the Middle Ages up
until the 1800’s, had perfected torture to a fine science. The instruments of
torture were devices so cruel, from the safe distance of time, we can only
imagine the screams of the victims. When you were asked to sit down and start
talking during the Middle Ages, you knew it was going to be a very bad day. The
sharp spikes of the interrogation chair was just the beginning. According to the
Historical Torture Museum:
The cries today from right wing ideologues to hang “terrorists” from street corners without trials
and evidence fit right in with thinking of the Middle Ages. Hanging Cages were a reminder to
passer bys that you better not only believe what you were told to believe, but this is theexample
of what governments and religion did to free thinkers, liberals, heretics and those who wanted
their own faith. It is only appropriate that these cages were attached to cathedrals and halls of
“justice”. After all, justice is the treating of equals as equals. Jews, heretics, Muslims, witches
and the politically unpopular were not considered equal. 6
The Head Crusher was a poorly designed interrogation tool. The victim was not able to confess
or disclose information, since their jaw was shut while the pain they experienced was extricating.
Unfortunately, the inquisitor did not always realize that the reason the victims were mumbling,
was their jaws were clamped shut. The teeth were crushed into the jaw and after enough
pressure, the eyes would come out of the sockets. Finally, the brain squirts through the crushed
skull. This device is still in use in some countries today. 7
and evidence fit right in with thinking of the Middle Ages. Hanging Cages were a reminder to
passer bys that you better not only believe what you were told to believe, but this is theexample
of what governments and religion did to free thinkers, liberals, heretics and those who wanted
their own faith. It is only appropriate that these cages were attached to cathedrals and halls of
“justice”. After all, justice is the treating of equals as equals. Jews, heretics, Muslims, witches
and the politically unpopular were not considered equal. 6
The Head Crusher was a poorly designed interrogation tool. The victim was not able to confess
or disclose information, since their jaw was shut while the pain they experienced was extricating.
Unfortunately, the inquisitor did not always realize that the reason the victims were mumbling,
was their jaws were clamped shut. The teeth were crushed into the jaw and after enough
pressure, the eyes would come out of the sockets. Finally, the brain squirts through the crushed
skull. This device is still in use in some countries today. 7
The use of torture as interrogation techniques of the Middle Ages ended in the 1800’s. The changes in thinking about slavery, prisoners of
war, science and man’s role in the world resulted in a different view of reality. Like all times of hysteria and propaganda, the unfortunate
reality is many people who were accused of being witches or heretics by their neighbors or jealous family relatives were innocent. Maybe
people could think what they wanted but as long as they did not harm others, it was acceptable.
war, science and man’s role in the world resulted in a different view of reality. Like all times of hysteria and propaganda, the unfortunate
reality is many people who were accused of being witches or heretics by their neighbors or jealous family relatives were innocent. Maybe
people could think what they wanted but as long as they did not harm others, it was acceptable.
 | |  | |  |
“This instrument of torture comes in different versions. We are first going to examine their common features and, then, their differences. All of
them have common features, in that they are covered with spikes on the back, on the arm-rests, on the seat, on the leg-rests and on the foot-
rests. The chair exhibited at the museum of San Gimignano has 1300 spikes, a real "carpet" of spikes . One version has a bar screwed on the
lower portion of the chair, by the victim's feet, which by a screw mechanism forced the back of the legs against the spikes, thus penetrating
the flesh of the victim. Another version had two bars immobilizing the victim's wrists forcing his forearms against the arm-rests resulting in the
flesh being penetrated by the spikes.
"Another version had a bar at chest height, to immobilize the victim's bust, while the spiked seat had holes to allow the victim's bottom to be
'heated" by hot coals placed under the seat, causing painful burns, but still keeping the victim conscious. The strength of this instrument lies
mainly in the psychological terror it causes and the threat that the torture will get increasingly worse, conforming to a model where the pain
starts off easy and then gets progressively worse. The idea is that the Inquisitors can interrupt it at any stage, upon visual inspection of the
damages that have been inflicted. This instrument was used in Germany up to the 1800s, in Italy and in Spain up to the end of the 1700s, in
France, in Great Britain and in the other central European countries, according to certain sources,up until the end of 1800s.” 2
them have common features, in that they are covered with spikes on the back, on the arm-rests, on the seat, on the leg-rests and on the foot-
rests. The chair exhibited at the museum of San Gimignano has 1300 spikes, a real "carpet" of spikes . One version has a bar screwed on the
lower portion of the chair, by the victim's feet, which by a screw mechanism forced the back of the legs against the spikes, thus penetrating
the flesh of the victim. Another version had two bars immobilizing the victim's wrists forcing his forearms against the arm-rests resulting in the
flesh being penetrated by the spikes.
"Another version had a bar at chest height, to immobilize the victim's bust, while the spiked seat had holes to allow the victim's bottom to be
'heated" by hot coals placed under the seat, causing painful burns, but still keeping the victim conscious. The strength of this instrument lies
mainly in the psychological terror it causes and the threat that the torture will get increasingly worse, conforming to a model where the pain
starts off easy and then gets progressively worse. The idea is that the Inquisitors can interrupt it at any stage, upon visual inspection of the
damages that have been inflicted. This instrument was used in Germany up to the 1800s, in Italy and in Spain up to the end of the 1700s, in
France, in Great Britain and in the other central European countries, according to certain sources,up until the end of 1800s.” 2
One of the many innovative interrogation
instruments of torture and punishment was...
instruments of torture and punishment was...
doors. Upon the inside of the door were vicious spikes. As the prisoner was shut
inside, the spikes would stab him or her over the entire length of the body. The metal
spikes and this torture chamber were not designed to kill instantly. After a few days of
screams and moans of agony, the victim would finally expire. This example of fine
German engineering has fortunately become a relic of history. There are no accurate
figures on how many ‘witches” and other heretics met their painful death in this iron
tomb.
inside, the spikes would stab him or her over the entire length of the body. The metal
spikes and this torture chamber were not designed to kill instantly. After a few days of
screams and moans of agony, the victim would finally expire. This example of fine
German engineering has fortunately become a relic of history. There are no accurate
figures on how many ‘witches” and other heretics met their painful death in this iron
tomb.
were hanged upside down and split in half. Since oxygen was still reaching the brain,
the victim would not die until the saw reached their naval or even the chest. Somehow
cutting wood will never have as much appeal knowing what Europeans did to each
other with the saw. If the interrogator was not happy with the answers of the accused,
there was always the “Cat’s Paw”. 4 This device could tear the flesh away from the
detainee despite the pleas for mercy.
There were numerous others, “The Judas Cradle”, below right, can you say ouch. The
pyramid shaped point was inserted in the anus or vagina and the legs suspended and
tied to the wall, any movement by either leg increased the pain. Before death, the
horrible pain could last hours or complete days.
the victim would not die until the saw reached their naval or even the chest. Somehow
cutting wood will never have as much appeal knowing what Europeans did to each
other with the saw. If the interrogator was not happy with the answers of the accused,
there was always the “Cat’s Paw”. 4 This device could tear the flesh away from the
detainee despite the pleas for mercy.
There were numerous others, “The Judas Cradle”, below right, can you say ouch. The
pyramid shaped point was inserted in the anus or vagina and the legs suspended and
tied to the wall, any movement by either leg increased the pain. Before death, the
horrible pain could last hours or complete days.
not recant and acknowledge the superior values of the particular brand of
Catholic or Protestant Christianity, they would be burned at the stake.
Today, we have mass spectator sports. In the Middle Ages the big public
event was burning Hilda the witch or Isaac, the un-recanting Jew or Ali, the
reluctant Catholic. Burning at the stake after being interrogated with torture
seems to defy all of our now well established notions of civil rights and due
process. But in any time period, hysteria and emotion will always win out over
logic and rational discourse. When people are given authority to violate the
rights of others, the excesses of human behavior can only be safely
observed from the distance of history. The fact that today Hilda has the right
to practice witchcraft does not hide the reality of what humans are capable of
doing if law is not there to stop their vicious behavior.
Catholic or Protestant Christianity, they would be burned at the stake.
Today, we have mass spectator sports. In the Middle Ages the big public
event was burning Hilda the witch or Isaac, the un-recanting Jew or Ali, the
reluctant Catholic. Burning at the stake after being interrogated with torture
seems to defy all of our now well established notions of civil rights and due
process. But in any time period, hysteria and emotion will always win out over
logic and rational discourse. When people are given authority to violate the
rights of others, the excesses of human behavior can only be safely
observed from the distance of history. The fact that today Hilda has the right
to practice witchcraft does not hide the reality of what humans are capable of
doing if law is not there to stop their vicious behavior.
The excesses of the Middle Ages came from religious and political intolerance. The Christians were not only intolerant of each other, they
were especially nasty toward suspected witches, Jews and Muslims. Queen Elizabeth I was barbaric in her treatment of Catholics and the
non-believers in their communities, the Spanish Catholics did not share these same live and let live views. As Dr. Magee observes:
were especially nasty toward suspected witches, Jews and Muslims. Queen Elizabeth I was barbaric in her treatment of Catholics and the
non-believers in their communities, the Spanish Catholics did not share these same live and let live views. As Dr. Magee observes:
"Sworn denunciation of an individual, or even a particular village, started the legal machinery.
Notionally, once accused, a defendant was provided the services of a lawyer, and he could not be
examined by the officers of the court without the presence of two “disinterested priests,” though in
what manner they were supposed to be disinterested is unclear." 12
Notionally, once accused, a defendant was provided the services of a lawyer, and he could not be
examined by the officers of the court without the presence of two “disinterested priests,” though in
what manner they were supposed to be disinterested is unclear." 12
And once the legal machinery of the Inquisition started, like today’s “war on terrorism” and the accusation of being a “terrorist”, it was hard to
stop. Individual due process was not high on the priority list of church or government policies. There was no “Bill of Rights” like we enjoy in
accused man or woman was not allowed to know who accused them. There is no right to confrontation for private individuals accused of being
“enemy combatants”. So consequently, people could and did accuse their personal enemies. 13*
And like today, people were held in legal limbo where they were often not allowed to have anybody to defend them. Like the Office of
Homeland Security, the Spanish Inquisition combined the functions of investigation, prosecution, and judgment. As Dr. Magee points out:
stop. Individual due process was not high on the priority list of church or government policies. There was no “Bill of Rights” like we enjoy in
accused man or woman was not allowed to know who accused them. There is no right to confrontation for private individuals accused of being
“enemy combatants”. So consequently, people could and did accuse their personal enemies. 13*
And like today, people were held in legal limbo where they were often not allowed to have anybody to defend them. Like the Office of
Homeland Security, the Spanish Inquisition combined the functions of investigation, prosecution, and judgment. As Dr. Magee points out:
Anyone arrested by the Inquisition was presumed guilty until proven innocent. Once a person was
accused, some kind of punishment was inevitable. If secular officials were reluctant to punish the
victims, they were likely to become victims themselves. If enough witnesses testified that the
accused person was guilty, then he or she was considered to be guilty. At that point the accused
person had to choose between confessing and renouncing their errors or else being burned. If
they confessed, then they would stay in prison for the rest of their life, but they would be spared
being burned at the stake. Torture, a commonplace with secular jurisdictions, had notionally
been forbidden in the old Roman Inquisition, but Pope Innocent IV issued his Papal Bull in 1252
allowing heretics to be tortured. So, the inquisitors used torture to get accused people to
“confess.”14
accused, some kind of punishment was inevitable. If secular officials were reluctant to punish the
victims, they were likely to become victims themselves. If enough witnesses testified that the
accused person was guilty, then he or she was considered to be guilty. At that point the accused
person had to choose between confessing and renouncing their errors or else being burned. If
they confessed, then they would stay in prison for the rest of their life, but they would be spared
being burned at the stake. Torture, a commonplace with secular jurisdictions, had notionally
been forbidden in the old Roman Inquisition, but Pope Innocent IV issued his Papal Bull in 1252
allowing heretics to be tortured. So, the inquisitors used torture to get accused people to
“confess.”14
Once accused, the individual was in a hopeless situation. If they denied the charges, they were immediately suspected of lying. If they
admitted the charges, then they were heretics and would be severely punished. In addition to the various instruments of torture mentioned
supra, there were also, the Garotte, the Oral, Rectal, Vaginal Pear, the infamous Rack, the Breast Ripper, the Shin Vice, the wheel, the
Stocks or Pillory, Strangulation, the Headman’s Sword, and finally the Tumbscrews. 15
admitted the charges, then they were heretics and would be severely punished. In addition to the various instruments of torture mentioned
supra, there were also, the Garotte, the Oral, Rectal, Vaginal Pear, the infamous Rack, the Breast Ripper, the Shin Vice, the wheel, the
Stocks or Pillory, Strangulation, the Headman’s Sword, and finally the Tumbscrews. 15
Therefore, obtaining a confession, regardless of whether or not the confession was true, was just a matter of time and torture. The torture
which occurred during the Spanish Inquisition was no worse than what was occurring in other parts of Europe or the rest of the world. Hysteria
led to burning innocent people accused of witchcraft. In Scotland Iain Johnstone observes,
which occurred during the Spanish Inquisition was no worse than what was occurring in other parts of Europe or the rest of the world. Hysteria
led to burning innocent people accused of witchcraft. In Scotland Iain Johnstone observes,
"It’s a monstrous amount - there is no other country which can compare. Some historians reckon
that 17,000 witches were burned in Scotland, but most of the records have disappeared." 16
that 17,000 witches were burned in Scotland, but most of the records have disappeared." 16
The use of torture as part of the interrogations in the Middle Ages resulted in horrendous miscarriages of justice. Even assuming someone in
fact was a witch, a Jew or a Muslim, no one bothered to question that maybe they had a God given right to practice their individual beliefs
provided they did not harm their neighbors. All force did was built resistance. Witchcraft temporarily went underground, Jews and Muslims left
Europe for more liberal thinking territories and in the early 1800’s, the Inquisition finally ended. As industrialization and mass production
improved with the increase in population, war and torture became extremely dangerous. The NAZIS and the AXIS powers committed horrific
war crimes which are well known and will not be regurgitated here. There was not only mass murder, i.e. genocide, but widespread torture
committed by the Gestapo, the Japanese military and even the former Soviet Union. Despite the first Geneva Conventions, the raw
emotions of war drove people to commit acts which in peace time never would be allowed, like intern Japanese American citizens.
As humanitarian law evolved, torture as a form of interrogation became illegal worldwide. Thinkers throughout history objected to the use of
torture. Seneca, Cicero and St. Augustine all objected to the use of torture as a method of interrogation.17 The great eighteenth century
Italian attorney Cesare Beccaria, observed that when a person is tortured, the
fact was a witch, a Jew or a Muslim, no one bothered to question that maybe they had a God given right to practice their individual beliefs
provided they did not harm their neighbors. All force did was built resistance. Witchcraft temporarily went underground, Jews and Muslims left
Europe for more liberal thinking territories and in the early 1800’s, the Inquisition finally ended. As industrialization and mass production
improved with the increase in population, war and torture became extremely dangerous. The NAZIS and the AXIS powers committed horrific
war crimes which are well known and will not be regurgitated here. There was not only mass murder, i.e. genocide, but widespread torture
committed by the Gestapo, the Japanese military and even the former Soviet Union. Despite the first Geneva Conventions, the raw
emotions of war drove people to commit acts which in peace time never would be allowed, like intern Japanese American citizens.
As humanitarian law evolved, torture as a form of interrogation became illegal worldwide. Thinkers throughout history objected to the use of
torture. Seneca, Cicero and St. Augustine all objected to the use of torture as a method of interrogation.17 The great eighteenth century
Italian attorney Cesare Beccaria, observed that when a person is tortured, the
"impression of pain…may increase to such a degree, that, occupying the mind entirely, it will
compel the sufferer to use the shortest method of freeing himself from torment…[H]e will accuse
himself of crimes of which he is innocent." In finding accomplices, "Will not the man who [under
torture falsely] accuses himself yet more readily accuse others?" 18
compel the sufferer to use the shortest method of freeing himself from torment…[H]e will accuse
himself of crimes of which he is innocent." In finding accomplices, "Will not the man who [under
torture falsely] accuses himself yet more readily accuse others?" 18
Torture, slavery, child labor is now outlawed throughout the world. Yet torture as the most vicious illegal form of interrogation continues. The
global community did nothing to stop the torture and genocide in Cambodia during the brutal regime of Pol Pot. In Sierra Leon the world
community stood by and watched as tens of thousands in this small African nation were tortured and slaughtered. According to Human Rights
Watch:
global community did nothing to stop the torture and genocide in Cambodia during the brutal regime of Pol Pot. In Sierra Leon the world
community stood by and watched as tens of thousands in this small African nation were tortured and slaughtered. According to Human Rights
Watch:
The rebel occupation of Freetown was characterized by the systematic and widespread
perpetration of all classes of gross human rights abuses against the civilian population. Civilians
were gunned down within their houses, rounded up and massacred on the streets, thrown from
the upper floors of buildings, used as human shields, and burned alive in cars and houses. They
had their limbs hacked off with machetes, eyes gouged out with knives, hands smashed with
hammers, and bodies burned with boiling water. Women and girls were systematically sexually
abused, and children and young people abducted by the hundreds. 19
perpetration of all classes of gross human rights abuses against the civilian population. Civilians
were gunned down within their houses, rounded up and massacred on the streets, thrown from
the upper floors of buildings, used as human shields, and burned alive in cars and houses. They
had their limbs hacked off with machetes, eyes gouged out with knives, hands smashed with
hammers, and bodies burned with boiling water. Women and girls were systematically sexually
abused, and children and young people abducted by the hundreds. 19
In Rwanda, the world community stood by and watched as torture and genocide occurred on a scale not seen since Pol Pot and the Nazis. In
the years that have followed, as the truth has come out, we now have clear evidence of the carnage. As Human Rights Watch observed:
the years that have followed, as the truth has come out, we now have clear evidence of the carnage. As Human Rights Watch observed:
Rwandan men, women and children were slaughtered in a genocide of the
Tutsi minority and in massacres of moderate Hutu who were willing to work
with Tutsi. A circle of political leaders, threatened with the loss of political
power, organized the killings with the help of the military, Hutu militiamen and
many other civilians." 20
Rape and other forms of torture are clearly illegal under all national and
international law. But without a legal structure to enforce international law,
torture will continue to be a method of interrogation. What America did at
Abu Graib is not unusual. Since we have sponsored some of the most brutal
killers in modern history, when we dirtied our own hands in Iraq, the
American people were surprised and disappointed. It was alright for Somoza
and Marcos and the Shah to torture and kill people.
Tutsi minority and in massacres of moderate Hutu who were willing to work
with Tutsi. A circle of political leaders, threatened with the loss of political
power, organized the killings with the help of the military, Hutu militiamen and
many other civilians." 20
Rape and other forms of torture are clearly illegal under all national and
international law. But without a legal structure to enforce international law,
torture will continue to be a method of interrogation. What America did at
Abu Graib is not unusual. Since we have sponsored some of the most brutal
killers in modern history, when we dirtied our own hands in Iraq, the
American people were surprised and disappointed. It was alright for Somoza
and Marcos and the Shah to torture and kill people.
But itwas shocking that we could engage in such "uncivilized" behavior. The fact that over two million Vietnamese were killed in a war that
could have been avoided is not a subject of discussion. Like the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed and wounded, life goes on
in the imperial empire.
could have been avoided is not a subject of discussion. Like the tens of thousands of Iraqis who have been killed and wounded, life goes on
in the imperial empire.
www.springfield.k12.il.us/schools/springfield/eliz/Torturepun.html
2. European Instruments of Torture and Capital Punishment from the Middle Ages to the Present. Online at:
www.torturamuseum.com/index.html
3. Torture & Death Penalty Instruments, From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Era online at:
www.houseofdesade.org/torture/intro.html
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. In 1478 when, at the request of the Spanish sovereigns Ferdinand and Isabella, Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) issued a papal bull allowing for
the creation of the Spanish Inquisition. It lasted until it was "abolished" in 1834, although its most fervent activity was during the 15th and 16th
centuries. Much has been written about the Inquisition. This mark on Spanish history should be a lesson to all of us on the folly of intolerance.
There are many excellent books and information on the web about this tortured time in human history. Online at:
/www.geocities.com/iberianinquisition/
8. Iain Johnstone at Aitchison’s Haven, Prestonpans. King who sparked a witch-burning panic. Online at:
http://heritage.scotsman.com/cfm/heritagenews/headlines_specific.cfm?articleid=899012002&subset=archive
9. Ibid
10. Ibid.
11. Dr M D Magee, The Spanish Inquisition online at:www.askwhy.co.uk/christianity/0816Inquisition.html
12. Ibid
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. cite 3 supra.
16. cite 8 supra.
17. The Fall of Torture, Rhys Moses online at:www.augustana.edu/academ/history/witchcraft/tor5.htm
18. Beccaria, Cesare, Of Crimes and Punishments. (15 Nov. 2001) online at: Human Rights Watch, The Legal Prohibition Against Torture:
www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/TortureQandA.htm#What
19. HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED BY RUF REBELS, Human Rights Watch online at:
www.hrw.org/reports/1999/sierra/SIERLE99-03.htm#P345_68527
20. Ibid.
2. European Instruments of Torture and Capital Punishment from the Middle Ages to the Present. Online at:
www.torturamuseum.com/index.html
3. Torture & Death Penalty Instruments, From the Middle Ages to the Industrial Era online at:
www.houseofdesade.org/torture/intro.html
4. Ibid.
5. Ibid.
6. Ibid.
7. In 1478 when, at the request of the Spanish sovereigns Ferdinand and Isabella, Pope Sixtus IV (1471-84) issued a papal bull allowing for
the creation of the Spanish Inquisition. It lasted until it was "abolished" in 1834, although its most fervent activity was during the 15th and 16th
centuries. Much has been written about the Inquisition. This mark on Spanish history should be a lesson to all of us on the folly of intolerance.
There are many excellent books and information on the web about this tortured time in human history. Online at:
/www.geocities.com/iberianinquisition/
8. Iain Johnstone at Aitchison’s Haven, Prestonpans. King who sparked a witch-burning panic. Online at:
http://heritage.scotsman.com/cfm/heritagenews/headlines_specific.cfm?articleid=899012002&subset=archive
9. Ibid
10. Ibid.
11. Dr M D Magee, The Spanish Inquisition online at:www.askwhy.co.uk/christianity/0816Inquisition.html
12. Ibid
13. Ibid.
14. Ibid.
15. cite 3 supra.
16. cite 8 supra.
17. The Fall of Torture, Rhys Moses online at:www.augustana.edu/academ/history/witchcraft/tor5.htm
18. Beccaria, Cesare, Of Crimes and Punishments. (15 Nov. 2001) online at: Human Rights Watch, The Legal Prohibition Against Torture:
www.hrw.org/press/2001/11/TortureQandA.htm#What
19. HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED BY RUF REBELS, Human Rights Watch online at:
www.hrw.org/reports/1999/sierra/SIERLE99-03.htm#P345_68527
20. Ibid.
| must be exercised in the jailing of suspects. Thus it will be necessary to study carefully the nature of the evidence, the quality of the witnesses, and the condition of the accused. Let not our reverence be hasty in proceeding to make an arrest because the mere capture, or even the rumor of it, causes serious harm." Genoa Inquisitor |
