The Presbytery of Kamloops has issued a letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper challenging “the recent federal government’s decision to allow the use of information received by and through the use of torture.”
Signed by the clerk of presbytery, Rev. Herb Hilder, the letter represents a voice of public dissent since the federal government seemingly reversed their policy on information gathering.
A 2010 directive recently obtained by the Canadian Press states in “exceptional circumstances” the Canadian Security Intelligence Service may use information gained by means of torture.
Critics have pointed out that this directive is in conflict with a 2009 ministerial order that states intelligence officials must not knowingly use such information.
The Kamloops presbytery echoes these criticisms, while aligning itself with Amnesty International: “As a presbytery, we are in full agreement with the statement of Amnesty International Canada that information obtained under torture ‘has no place in the justice system, full stop.’ It further agrees with Mr. Alex Neve, Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada, who said that there should be no exception to the use of torture.”
