Water torture
Water torture is torture using water, which can take several forms. Because no external marks are left on victims of water torture, it has been a favoured method of torture in various countries and political regimes.
The torture has notably been used against political prisoners.
Forced ingestion
In this form of water torture, water is forced down the throat and into the stomach. It was used as a legal torture and execution method by the courts in France in the 17th and 18th century, was employed against Americans and Chinese during World War II by the Japanese, and was also used against Filipinos by American Forces During the Philippine-American War. The Human Rights Watch organization reports that in the 2000s, security forces in Uganda sometimes forced a detainee to lie face up under an open water spigot.[1]
Terror of drowning
Waterboarding refers to a torture where some water is poured over the face or head of the victim, in order to invoke their instinctive fear of drowning.
Whipping
In many cases people had very cold water poured over them, to make a whipping more painful. The water also made it easier to pierce the skin.
Dripping water
What is called the "Chinese water torture" was a torture described by Hippolytus de Marsiliis in the 16th century that was supposed to drive its victim insane with the stress of water dripping on a part of the forehead for a very, very long time.
Dunking
In this form of torture, a victim would be repeatedly immersed in water, then pulled out and asked to confess to a crime. Those who failed to confess would be immersed again.
Other
Torturers might also:
- immerse a victim in very cold water, or drench the victim in very cold water from a hose, inducing hypothermia (see also: Nazi freezing experiments)
- pour very cold and hot water upon the victim in turn
- inflict tissue damage through the use of boiling water
- The Falun Gong have accused the Chinese government of using "water dungeons" on jailed practitioners. A water dungeon is simply a pool of filthy water in which a caged detainee is immersed neck-deep for days or weeks at a time. After a few days in a water dungeon the victim will be covered in festering sores and will not be able to move most major muscles for 2 to 3 weeks.[2]
Sources and notes
- ^ Human Rights Watch, Human Rights News: Torture Worldwide
- ^ faluninfo.net article Water dungeon
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Water Power is a 1976 graphic film which was directed by Shaun Costello and starred Jamie Gillis as the "enema bandit".
The film is loosely based on the real life exploits of the Illinois Enema bandit who administered forced enemas to female college students in the 1960s and 70s.
In preparing for his role, Gillis asked to be allowed to fly down to Illinois to interview the man his character was based on in jail. His request was denied.
Water Power is infamous due to its graphic (and very real) depictions of enemas being administered to bound women. Although all of the actresses who appear in the film gave their consent to be given enemas, due to current United States laws which govern explicit sex in films, Water Power is illegal in the U.S. on the grounds that it depicts un-consensual sex scenes.
Shaun Costello has recently received much critical acclaim for this film and it has been called his best feature. Costello is also known for the films Dracula Exotica (1980), Fiona On Fire (1977), Midnight Desires (1975), and Forced Entry (1971), his directorial debut.
Costello claims that Taxi Driver was his main inspiration for the film and although Water Power does contain similar elements to the 1976 film, it remains a fiercely original and fascinating example of great and important American filmmaking.