>>If the prisoner sees someone wearing a cross lapel pin.... is it torture? If their last meal was not halal is it torture? If their lawyer doesn’t take a secret code for their handlers in the US is it torture? some people have an odd idea on what is torture.<<
I formed some of my opinion on this when I worked for a college newspaper and was sent to cover an anti-abortion protest. Protesters laid down in front of cars to stop women from being delivered to the clinic for abortions.
The police twisted the protesters’ arms until the pain caused them to agree to stop blocking the cars.
I thought about it and concluded that torture included the government using pain to force people to do or say something the would not do willingly when there was another way.
I think putting somebody in a freezer until they have to be hospitalized would qualify.
and what was the torture in this particular case?