Torture is an attempt to destroy the victim’s personality, despising the dignity of every human being. Its practice is one of the most abhorrent acts that people commit against their fellow human beings.
Based on this conceptualization, torture cannot be justified under any circumstances, neither in a state of war nor in response to terrorism, political instability or any other public emergency. Nevertheless, many states continue to practice or tolerate torture, with impunity for the perpetrators and suffering for the victims.
The Israel-Gaza conflict is a vivid example. According to recent data from reputable news agencies, at least 54 detainees from various Palestinian regions have died in Israeli prisons, as a result of torture and inhumane conditions, since the beginning of the genocidal war. Testimonies from recently released detainees attest to numerous forms of torture and inhumane treatment, including forced nudity, prolonged binding and blindfolding, electrocution, and cutting of the body with sharp tools.
Other abuses reported include deprivation of sleep, bathing and medical care, dog attacks, and exposure to extreme cold. Clearly, in Gaza torture is no longer hidden as it was thought to be in dark dungeons or prison cells, torture is still shown to the people, to the world, taking away the voice of the tortured person and thus reducing him to a body that moans, screams and cries.
We express our solidarity with the millions of victims of torture, and reiterate the need for all nations to provide them with justice and rehabilitation. To spare no effort to rid the world of this cruel, degrading and illegal practice, is Cuba’s call on the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture.
