Pull the plug on torture music

Modern torture takes many forms. A popular tactic - combined with stress positions, water-boarding, sleep deprivation and beatings - is the use of music, blasted at ghost prisoners for days on end to "break them" psychologically. Eminem, Bruce Springsteen, Metallica, Britney Spears, Rage Against the Machine and even the Barney theme song have been used in this way from Guantánamo Bay, to Iraq, to the 'Dark Prison' in Afghanistan.

To stop this Reprieve is encouraging musicians to adopt clauses in their contracts and make powerful statements against the use of their music for torture.

Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, Elbow, the Magic Numbers, the Alabama 3, Massive Attack and Bill Bailey have declared their opposition to the use of music for torture and have pledged support for Reprieve's initiative. We hope that other musicians will follow their example.

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