United States: HRW-backed Torture Amendment Passes the House

The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed an amendment offered by Representative Edward J. Markey that reaffirms the government's opposition to torture and prohibits the use of U.S. funds for the practice of "extraordinary rendition." The amendment bans the transfer of individuals to the custody of other countries where they are likely to be tortured - a practice that the Bush Administration has increasingly authorized since September 11.