USE OF MUSIC AS AN INSTRUMENT OF TORTURE

Early day motion 352, tabled 17 December 2008 by Janet Anderson (Labour). Signed by 43 members.

That this House notes and objects to the incessant playing of high volume music by United States interrogators as a form of psychological torture used to break prisoners; further notes that the existence of this practice has been acknowledged by the US's Psychological Operations Company; defends the human rights of all human beings as laid out by the Geneva Convention; and therefore believes that torture, including this practice of using music, is inhumane and a breach of these rights; further believes that the particular practice of using music as an instrument of torture is an infringement of creator's rights; supports the Musician's Union's principled protest, through the Zero dB initiative, against this practice; and urges the Government to exert whatever diplomatic pressure is available to end this practice and the practice of torture in all countries.

Signatures by party: Labour 30, Liberal Democrat 6, Conservative 4, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.