23 Oct 2009

Guantanamo music use condemned

A group of bands including REM and Pearl Jam have said they are to file a lawsuit aimed at accessing US documents on the use of music during interrogations of terrorism suspects held at the Guantanamo Bay military prison.

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The announcement on Thursday came as the bands expressed support for the National Campaign to Close Guantanamo, launched by former US military generals and politicians.

The musicians launched "a formal protest of the use of music used in conjunction with torture that took place at the prison and other facilities".

The group said it was supporting "an effort seeking the declassification of all secret government records pertaining to how music was utilised as an interrogation device".

Members of the group include Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.

The two bands' music has been linked to interrogations at the prison, according to previously released government records.

Al Jazeera