I wish to offer my support to those principled psychologists in Turkey
who are opposed to the visit of US psychologist Stephen Behnke. Behnke
is a notorious apologist for the involvement of psychologists in
interrogation, and he together with the APA leadership has steadfastly
refused to act against psychologists known to have been involved in the
torture programme at Guantánamo and other US prison camps.
Behnke's visit to Turkey, known for its oppressive state security
apparatus, the visit is doubly problematic. While the Turkish State has
perhaps little to learn from the US in terms of the systematic use of
terror, demands for more openness (for example in order to join the
European Community) is likely to means a search for more subtle forms of
torture and it is here that organised psychology has to make a very
clear ethical stand against all participation in interrogation.
In solidarity,
Mark Burton, BSc, PhD, MSc, MSc, AFBPS, CPsychol.
Manager, Health and Social Services, Manchester UK
Visiting Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University
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