The United Nations (UN) torture investigator has voiced concern about the US Republican presidential candidates’ call for authorizing the use of torture, saying it is a violation of domestic and international law.
Leading Republican candidates Donald Trump and Ted Cruz have indicated that they would allow torture, waterboarding in particular, as an interrogation tactic.
“Candidates in the United States have again discussed whether waterboarding is torture or not and have actually promised to bring it back and to bring even harsher techniques,” Juan Mendez, UN special rappporteur on torture, told reporters in Geneva, according to Reuters.
On Sunday, Trump once again defended his stance on torture, arguing that the US has become very weak and ineffective in the fight against terrorist groups such as Daesh (ISIL).
Trump’s chief rival Senator Cruz of Texas has also floated the idea of legalizing a limited use of waterboarding.
The brutal practice,…