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David Gray Condemns Using Music To Torture Prisoners In Iraq

Including his own song...

  • by Jason Gregory
  • Friday, July 04, 2008
  • Photo by: Shirlaine Forrest
  • filed in:
David Gray Condemns Using Music To Torture Prisoners In Iraq
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Singer David Gray has condemned using music – including his own – to torture prisoners.

"What we're talking about here is people in a darkened room, physically inhibited by handcuffs, bags over their heads and music blaring at them,” he told the BBC.

Gray's comments follow reports that US interrogators in Iraq have been using his track, 'Babylon', to aid their questioning of suspects.

The use of loud music is a common aid in American interrogation in both Iraq and the Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

In an interview with BBC Radio 4, Gray said it doesn't matter what music is played, the process  “is nothing but torture.”

"It doesn't matter what the music is - it could be Tchaikovsky's finest or it could be Barney the Dinosaur.

"It really doesn't matter, it's going to drive you completely nuts,” he said.
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  • Musicians can sign up to Pull the Plug on Torture on the website of Reprieve, the legal action charity which represents prisoners in Guantanamo Bay. Supporters include Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine (whose music was used for torture), Massive Attack, Alabama 3, Elbow, Magic Numbers, Seize the Day. Here’’s the link: http://www.reprieve.org.uk/Press_stop_torture_music.htm

    ~ by Andy Worthington 7/4/2008

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