Almost 6 in 10 people around the world reject the use of torture in all instances, according to the latest survey from WorldPublicOpinion.org. Only slightly more than one-quarter of respondents expressed a willingness to accept some torture under the hypothetically dubious, extremely unlikely, and illegal event that torturing a suspect might lead to "saving lives."
As President Bush continues to hide from fresh charges by current and former military officials that he and other top administration officials ordered torture and illegal mistreatment at U.S. operated prison camps (Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, etc.), the latest poll data shows much of the rest of the world is well in advance of him.
In a recent report by the Physicians for Human Rights, Army Maj. Gen. Antonio Taguba, who investigated the events at Abu Ghraib, wrote last week: "there is no longer any doubt as to whether the current administration has committed war crimes. The only question that remains to be answered is whether those who ordered the use of torture will be held to account."
Mexico, Spain, France, Great Britain, Palestinian Territories, China, and Indonesia expressed the greatest unequivocal opposition to torture with all higher than average scores, ranging from 61% opposition to 82%, according to the survey.
Turkey, South Korea, the U.S., and Nigeria showed the highest numbers of support for generally allowing torture. The U.S. fell in below the global average in unequivocal opposition.
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