Angelina Jolie talks about CIA torture report and joining politics

Hollywood actress/director Angelina Jolie has been relentlessly promoting her latest directorial 'Unbroken'.

Talking about her World War II epic Jolie touched several hotly debated topics.

Commenting on the CIA torture report released recently by The Senate Intelligence Committee, the American actress  told BBC Arabic's Sam Asi that laws against torture and the Geneva Conventions must be respected. She said that any leading democracy in the world must set an example and that includes the US.

BBC Arabic's exclusive interview took place in Los Angeles, last Wednesday 10 December, 2014. The full interview will be broadcast later on today in BBC Arabic TV at 1800GMT.

Extracts from the interview are transcribed below.

BBC Arabic: 'Unbroken' is such a timely subject. You present some gruesome images of torture of the Japanese captors against an American war prisoner. But this morning we got all these news about the CIA doing the same even worse to their detainees. You're somebody who witnessed the impact of torture on people. How do you react to that particularly that President Obama said that we should forget that and move on?

Jolie: There are reasons why we have laws against torture. There are reasons why we have the Geneva conventions and we must follow them. We must follow them to protect our own soldiers when they are in captivity (...) If we are to be who we represent ourselves to be, as Americans, as a democracy, we have to lead the way and handle ourselves in a manner that is respectful to other human beings (...) I think it's important to look at the bigger picture, which is any country, any leading democracy in the world must set an example and we should set an example. We must hold ourselves accountable for what we do and how we behave, and we have to be leaders in this world. We have to do the right things and make the right choices. I believe strongly in international justice. If we want everyone to behave in a certain way, we must lead the way.

BBC Arabic: Do you expect this movie ('Unbroken') to pave the way for a summit on torture in war zones?

Jolie: The intention of this film and the message of Louis' story is about the resilience of human spirit, faith, brotherhood and forgiveness. However we review history and how it affects us today, we have to look at it with a clear mind and an open heart. And it's not about just judgement, it's about trying to understand each other and how we are planning on moving forward together. So if something would come out of 'Unbroken' it would be more about inspiring people around the world to face any obstacles wherever they are from, wherever their background, their faith, to do the right thing for others and to see the world around them.

BBC Arabic: You meet victims of torture and war in your trips to refugee camps and war zones. When you meet them and talk to them, what do you tell them to do? How do you console them? What is your message to them?

Jolie: I don't pretend to know what they are feeling because I can't imagine, but I'm there to listen to them and to try to be a voice for them and encourage countries to make decisions on behalf of these families. There's more people displaced from conflicts today than there were after WW2. If you look at that, it says a lot about what we are not doing right, that we are not able to prevent and resolve conflicts (...) I know the reality of being in a refugee camp is on average 17 years, so it will never to be the same for these families.

BBC Arabic: You recently alluded in an interview that you can do politics. Do you believe that being a politician can help you achieve your humanitarian goals?

Jolie: If I believed it, I probably have already jumped in and attempted it. If I believe that I would make a difference in that way... But I was simply asked if I would consider it and I said I would be open. But the reality is I've always wanted to just participate wherever I can be useful.

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