Is the use of torture ever justified in dealing with criminals and terrorists? Discuss this in the light of the arguments raised in the two articles and substantiate your ideas with examples of your own.



The use of torture in dealing with criminals and terrorists seems justifiable and crucial in getting information in certain circumstances. In the first article, it mentioned that in democracies, we work hard to push the idea of justice. For example, before you pity any terrorist who scream and yelp in torment, think of 9/11, of the horrifying bloodshed. Everything will then sound like justice. It is only right to return the evil with a taste of their own medicine. They deserve to be tortured, if not worse than what they did to the victims.

Torturing criminals are acceptable, in gathering information fast, under pressing conditions. For example, when a cold-blooded criminal tries to stall time with the police when his victim is struggling in an enclosed container, it is important that the police get hold of the whereabouts of the victim in the shortest possible time, to save his life. In this case, torture may become imperative to force the criminal into telling where he kept his victim. A life is at stake. So, do we still insist that it is against the human rights to torture him when one may be slowly dying? It can aid the police’s investigations and increase their efficiency in rescuing the victims, saving more lives.

However, as stated in the second article, there should be a limit to the torture used. Not to the extent of any vicious acts, that may cause harm to the criminal’s loved ones who are innocent. If one is insistent on not cooperating, nothing could be done, if a level of torture is used, but proved ineffective. Further torture should not be continued as it is not going to work. Also, the police should only incorporate torture into their investigations when they are certain of the crimes committed by the criminal.

Hence, I feel that torture is justified when directed at hard-nosed inhumane criminals.