Action Item - Ask Producers of '24' to Stop Promoting Torture

The 7th season of "24" began Sunday on The FOX Network. The program is essentially an hour long, prime time advertisement for torture.

Please join us in signing a letter to the Executive Producers asking them to show torture in a more responsible manner.

The first four episodes of the program, which aired on Sunday and Monday nights, appear to be designed to prove that those who are on the front lines in the struggle to stop terrorism understand that torture is an effective and necessary tool.

Watch our review of "24" – a 3-minute video that examines the first four episodes of Season 7.

Here are some of the plot points:

An FBI agent who is presented as adamantly opposed to torture drops her opposition soon after she is put in charge of an investigation to stop terrorists from killing thousands of Americans.
Jack Bauer, the hero of the show, delivers a passionate defense of his use of torture while hero music plays in the background. Later a U.S. security agent tells Bauer that "it is wrong" that some people question Bauer's use of abusive interrogation tactics.
Several torture scenes depict torture being used by Bauer and other "patriots" who supposedly have no other choice. Every time the good guys use torture terrorists immediately provide information.
Obviously many of the more than 12 million people who tuned in for the opening episodes are sophisticated enough to understand that this is just TV. But the relentless promotion of torture by "24" has already had an impact. Military educators report that "24" is one of the biggest problems they have in their classrooms and junior soldiers – even interrogators at Guantanamo Bay – have copied techniques they have seen depicted on the program, according to information gathered by journalists and Human Rights First.

We are concerned about the impact of "24" abroad as well. The first six seasons were re-broadcast in dozens of countries (including a number of countries in the Middle East) where the program has undoubtedly reinforced negative stereotypes about U.S. forces and the way they treat detainees.

At a time when President-elect Obama is considering action that will close the door on the sorts of abuse that Bauer specializes in, we are urging "24" to stop promoting torture.

Please join us in sending a letter to the Executive Producers of the program that encourages them to begin showing torture in a more responsible fashion.

Sincerely,

David Danzig
Director, Primetime Torture Project