John McCarthy: There are never any circumstances in which torture is acceptable
Former hostage and torture survivor John McCarthy has written in The Times about why the absolute ban on torture must never be weakened.
Almost 35 years after his release from more than five years in captivity in Lebanon, John McCarthy has shared his personal experience of torture in a powerful opinion piece published in The Times.
Drawing on his own experience as a survivor, John reflects on the devastating and lifelong impact of torture, and warns against growing public acceptance of practices that should never be justified.
The article comes as new polling commissioned by Freedom from Torture reveals that one in five British people who expressed a view believe there are circumstances in which torture can be acceptable.
Why this matters
Torture is never acceptable.
International law is clear: the prohibition on torture is absolute. It exists to protect our shared humanity, recognising that there are no situations in which the deliberate infliction of severe physical or psychological suffering can be justified.
Yet our polling suggests this principle cannot be taken for granted.
John McCarthy's article is a powerful reminder of what torture really means. It is not an abstract political debate or a historical issue. Every day, people around the world are subjected to torture because of who they are, what they believe, or where they live. Many of those survivors later seek safety in the UK, carrying the lasting psychological and physical consequences of what they have endured.
A survivor's perspective
Reflecting on his own experience, John explains that torture strips people of their dignity, humanity and sense of safety. While physical injuries may heal, the trauma can last a lifetime.
His message is clear: once we begin to make exceptions for torture, we risk undermining one of the most important human rights protections that exists.
As someone who has lived through torture, John urges anyone who believes there could ever be "the right circumstances" for torture to think again.
Freedom from Torture's response
At Freedom from Torture, we see every day the long-term impact that torture has on survivors.
Our therapists, doctors and legal experts work alongside survivors as they rebuild their lives in the UK, while our campaigning seeks to ensure the UK remains a strong global voice against torture and protects the rights of those who have experienced it.
The findings from our latest polling demonstrate why continuing to speak out against torture is more important than ever. Public understanding matters. So does political leadership. The prohibition on torture must remain absolute.
Read John's article
John McCarthy's full opinion piece is available in The Times.
If you have access to The Times, you can read the article there.