They had no idea and they are pissed!!!
Famed musicians, such as R.E.M. and Pearl Jam have filed a series of Freedom of Information requests, asking the government to declassify documents that would reveal which artist’s catalogs were used in several prisons and military detention centers, including Guantanamo Bay.
The music may have been used in controversial interrogation methods (aka torture) in which detainees are forced to listen music at extreme levels for hours on end.
The requests were filed by Close Gitmo Now, a grassroots organization aimed at pressuring Congress to support President Obama‘s intentions to close Guantanamo Bay prison. Their allegations are based of the testimony of former prisoner and guards that identified music from artists ranging from Britney Spears to AC/DC to the Sesame Street theme song.
It may sound funny, but “it’s very scary to think that you might go crazy because of the music, because of the loud noise,” said Ruhal Ahmed, a former detainee who is suing the government for the abuse.
The musicians have not verified whether they would take legal action, but we’d be surprised if they didn’t!
“We have spent the past 30 years supporting causes related to peace and justice. To now learn that some of our friends’ music may have been used as part of the torture tactics without their consent or knowledge is horrific,” said R.E.M in a statement. “It’s anti-American, period.”
Terrible!
[Image via WENN.]