Why Not Torture Terrorists? Moral, Practical and Legal Aspects of the "Ticking Bomb" Justification for Torture

• Presents an informed, in-depth analysis of torture as a moral issue and a coherent, passionate defence of the absolute prohibition
• Provides a thoroughly researched examination of current State practice in terrorist interrogation, including the US and Israeli models of coercive interrogation
• Analyses the legal framework prohibiting torture and the attempts to circumvent the prohibition through the 'Defence of Necessity' test

New to this edition

• Includes a new 20 page reflection on recent developments from 2007-2009 bringing the work up to date

This book addresses a dilemma at the heart of counter-terrorist policy: is it ever justifiable to torture terrorists in order to save the lives of others, the so-called 'ticking bomb' scenario?

The book opens with an analysis of the pure moral argument from the standpoint of the individual as torturer. It then looks at the issues that arise once a state has decided to sanction torture in certain situations: how to establish factually that the situation is urgent, deciding who to torture, training people to carry out torture, and the efficacy of torture as a means of gathering information. The final part examines attempts to operate legal systems which tolerate torture; how they relate to the criminal law notion of necessity and to international human rights norms.

After examining the utilitarian arguments for torture, and the impact on a society of permitting torture, the author presents a powerful argument for maintaining the absolute legal prohibition.

Readership: Human rights and legal professionals, academics and advanced students in philosophy, politics and law interested in the arguments surrounding the prohibition on torture and the 'war on terror'.