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The term '''torture''' refers to acts 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.

The term '''torture''' refers to acts 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]]'', and well-known examples from real history can be found in the [[Malleus Maleficarum]],<ref>[http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/ The Malleus Maleficarum]</ref> a manual for [[Witch Hunt|witch hunters]]. Opposition to torture on [[human rights]] grounds began in the 20th century, 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. -->

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]]'', and well-known examples from real history can be found in the [[Malleus Maleficarum]],<ref>[http://www.malleusmaleficarum.org/ The Malleus Maleficarum]</ref> a manual for [[Witch Hunt|witch hunters]]. Opposition to torture on [[human rights]] grounds began in the 20th century, yet torture persists in countries as diverse as [[Saudi Arabia]], [[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. -->

== Atheistic communism and torture ==

== Atheistic communism and torture ==