‘This country has not held any officials accountable for the use of torture’ - Daphne Eviatar

Responding to news that the US Senate Intelligence Committee has recommended that the Senate approve the nomination of Gina Haspel as the next CIA director, Daphne Eviatar, Director of Security with Human Rights at Amnesty International USA, said:

“Due to the overwhelming public evidence suggesting Haspel’s participation and compliance with crimes including torture, enforced disappearance and obstruction of justice, Haspel’s nomination is an affront to human rights. 

“This country has not held any officials accountable for the use of torture, so it’s even more outrageous that the government is considering someone to the chief intelligence position in spite of her alleged participation in that clearly illegal and immoral activity.” 

Amnesty takes no position on the appointment of particular individuals to government positions unless they are reasonably suspected of crimes under international law. Amnesty has previously called for crimes under international law committed in the CIA secret detention programme to be fully investigated. Enforced disappearance and torture are crimes under international law - anyone involved in such crimes should be brought to justice in full and fair trials.

Amnesty recently published a 32-page report on the CIA’s torture programme and Gina Haspel’s nomination.