Pat Davis, president of the board of TASSC International and a good friend of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture, has written a remarkable play on U.S.-sponsored torture called Alternative Methods. Catholic University’s Drama Department is sponsoring staged readings of the play, followed by panel discussions. The readings will be held in two locations: on Friday, November 4, at Theater J (1529 16th Street NW) and on Saturday, November 5, at Catholic University’s Callan Theater (3801 Harewood Road NE). The readings begin at 7:30 p.m.
There will be a panel each evening following the performance. The Friday night panel will include: Juan Mendez, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture; Glenn Carle, former CIA black site interrogator and author of The Interrogator; and Leonard S. Rubenstein, former director of Physicians for Human Rights. The Saturday night panel includes: Glen Carle, former CIA black site interrogator and author of The Interrogator; Nancy Sherman, professor of ethics at Georgetown University; Mary Harding, survivor of torture and board member of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International.
In the play, an Iraqi doctor is detained, suspected of treating an Al-Qaeda leader. With the clock ticking, interrogators must quickly get the doctor to reveal the location of the safe house. A young interrogation psychologist witnesses severe acts of torture that still yield no intelligence. She takes matters into her own hands. Alternative Methods explores the role of mental health professional in the interrogation of detainees in the war on terror.
Those who have seen it highly recommend it.
The readings are free and open to the public, and no reservations are required.
For more information about the play and playwright see http://www.alternativemethodstheplay.com.
Thank you for all you do to end torture.
Linda Gustitus, President
Rev. Richard Killmer, Executive Director
