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often too horrible for words
The term torture refers to punishments which inflict severe pain or mutilation on prisoners. Governments, armies and tyrants have inflicted torture on opponents throughout recorded history, chiefly against [[slave]]s and [[rebel]]s, but also against political or religious dissidents.
In the West, the best known cases of torture were inflicted by ecclesiastical and political authorities during the Middle Ages. A well-known example from historical fiction occurs in ''[[Ivanhoe]]''.
In the 20th century, opposition to torture on [[human rights]] grounds began, yet torture persists in countries as diverse as [[China]] and [[Sudan]]. <!-- too grisly and disgusting to mention here, but go read The Epoch Times for China. I might talk about ants and hamstringing in the Sudan article. Ed Poor. -->
The UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment defines torture as:
The UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment defines torture as: