Just before sunrise Jorge Quiroga's motorcycle broke down on his way to work. He was trying to fix his bike on the side of a dusty street when a large military truck headed straight toward him.
In confusion he looked around as several heavily armed military officials got out of the car and came toward him. One guard swung his rifle at Quiroga, hitting him in the face and knocking him out.
"That was the last of my freedom," explained Quiroga. He woke up with his hands and feet tied down and the weight of people stepping on his body. For the next two months he was tortured at a military detention center by the Argentine government.
Last Thursday Quiroga shared part of his story on the steps of St. Mary's Catholic Church in the Central District. More than 25 members of the Washington State Religious Campaign Against Torture (WSRCAT) met for a press conference condemning U.S. torture practices. With signs bearing phrases challenging these practices, several religious leaders from around the state spoke about the importance of a basic moral imperative to treat all humans with dignity.
So far, 16 congregations are taking part in a banner campaign to raise awareness about torture and abusive treatment of detainees by U.S. government agencies or U.S. contractors.
As part of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture over 300 banners are being displayed. At University Temple United Methodist Church the banner "Torture is a moral issue" has been placed above the entrance into the church.
Rev. Dr. Mary Boyd of that church explained her wishes to publicly condemn and oppose torture. "There is no ambiguity in the matter," she said. "For a country that was founded on liberty and justice for all, to be taking part in torture practices is an abomination."
The legitimacy and effectiveness of torture have been highly questioned. The Center for Victims of Torture argues that torture does not yield reliable information. They also state that torture corrupts the perpetrator while also causing psychological damage to the person being questioned.
Alternatively, political legal authorities such as David Addington and John Yoo attest that in a time of war, torture may be necessary to assure the security of the state.
It has been 28 years since Quiroga was tortured in Argentina. "It wasn't yesterday, but it is still so fresh in my mind," he said. Banal activities such as showering are everyday battles he has to overcome.
During his time in detention, Quiroga frequently underwent electrical shock treatment while being tied down to a metal bed, as well as water torture, a method of interrogation that simulates drowning.
He was accused of being a military member for a youth rights group critical of the government when he was kidnapped. He didn't recognize anything that they were interrogating him about because he was only a member of the political party. Quiroga was released two months later after being deemed innocent.
"I didn't expect that I would survive," Quiroga said. "Most of my friends disappeared during this time and I thought they were dead.... I wasn't expecting a different outcome for me."
After being released, he was given amnesty to become a U.S. citizen; he said it took him four to five years to recuperate once settled in the states.
"I was pretty much a displaced person, and that made me question my beliefs and everything in my life," he said. "It took time to realize they were wrong and I was right."
Today, over 700 people have been detained without trial at U.S.-operated Guant