ISNA PARTICIPATES IN ‘NATIONAL DAY OF WITNESS’ AGAINST TORTURE

Religious Leaders Urge President-Elect Obama to Make Torture Ban Executive Order

(Washington D.C., 11/13/08) On Wednesday, November 12, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) participated in the "National Day of Witness for a Presidential Executive Order to Ban Torture" sponsored by the National Religious Campaign Against Torture (NRCAT).

Participants in the day's events sought to persuade President-elect Barack Obama to sign an Executive Order banning torture as one of his first official actions in office and to urge Members of Congress to establish a Select Committee to investigate the use of torture since September 11, 2001.

During the national press conference call to commemorate the National Day of Witness, ISNA President Dr. Ingrid Mattson said, "According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and the Convention Against Torture, we as an international community long ago established that every person in the world, regardless of their race, religion or socioeconomic status has the right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.”

Dr. Mattson continued by saying: "As religious leaders in America, it is our moral obligation to stand up for human rights and call upon our government to ensure that the United States continues to uphold the standards set forth by these international treaties and conventions."

During the national press conference call, NRCAT leaders were joined by Rabbi Serotta; Chair of Rabbis for Human Rights, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, President, Islamic Society of North America; Rev. Dr. John Thomas, President and General Minister, United Church of Christ; and Dr. Stephen Colecchi, Director, Office of International Justice and Peace, Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

CONTACT: Mohamed Elsanousi, Director of Communications and Community Outreach, Phone: (317) 506-2835 or Email: melsanousi@isna.net

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