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Amna Suraka, The Red Museum: A Testament to Kurdish Resilience

Explore Amna Suraka, the Red Museum in Sulaymaniyah: a haunting memorial to the Kurdish struggle against oppression during Saddam Hussein's regime.

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Amna Suraka, or the Red Museum, in Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, stands as a haunting memorial to the Kurdish people's suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime. Once a notorious prison, it now showcases exhibits of torture chambers, personal stories, and artifacts from the Anfal campaign, offering a powerful and emotional experience.

A brief summary to Amna Suraka, Red Museum

  • Monday 9 am-4 pm
  • Tuesday 9 am-4 pm
  • Wednesday 9 am-4 pm
  • Thursday 9 am-4 pm
  • Saturday 9 am-4 pm
  • Sunday 9 am-4 pm

Local tips

  • Visit during weekdays to avoid larger crowds and have a more intimate experience with the exhibits.
  • Allocate at least two hours for your visit to fully appreciate the history and stories presented at the museum.
  • Consider hiring a local guide to gain deeper insights into the exhibits and the historical context of the Kurdish struggle.
  • Photography is allowed, but be respectful of the site's sensitive nature.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    If you are starting from the center of Sulaymaniyah, head towards Saeed Kaban Street. You can ask locals for directions to Saeed Kaban St, which is a major thoroughfare. Once you are on Saeed Kaban Street, continue walking straight for about 15-20 minutes. The Amna Suraka, Red Museum is located on your right side. The walk is straightforward and passes through a lively area of the city.

  • Public Transport

    To reach Amna Suraka Red Museum via public transportation, head to the nearest bus stop in Sulaymaniyah. Take a local minibus that is heading towards 'Saeed Kaban Street.' Inform the driver you want to get off near the museum. The ride should take around 15-20 minutes depending on traffic. Once you get off, walk a short distance along Saeed Kaban Street, and the museum will be on your right. Bus fare is approximately 500 IQD.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available throughout Sulaymaniyah. Hail a taxi from your location and ask to be taken to Amna Suraka (Red Museum) on Saeed Kaban Street. A typical taxi ride from the city center to the museum will cost approximately 3,000 to 5,000 IQD, depending on the distance and traffic. Ensure the driver is familiar with the location.

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Discover more about Amna Suraka, Red Museum

Amna Suraka, also known as the Red Museum, is a powerful and poignant memorial located in Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The museum, whose name translates to 'Red Security' or 'Red Prison,' was once the northern headquarters of Saddam Hussein's Iraqi Intelligence Service. During Saddam's regime, particularly during the Anfal campaign in the 1980s, it served as a site of imprisonment, interrogation, torture, and execution for thousands of Kurds, Iraqis, and Syrians. Following the liberation of Kurdistan in 1991, the complex was transformed into a museum in 2003 to document the atrocities and honor the victims of Saddam's regime. The museum's exhibits include haunting photographs, displays of prison cells, torture methods, and personal narratives from victims, providing chilling insights into the systematic brutality inflicted upon the Kurdish community. One of the most striking features is the hall of mirrors, adorned with 182,000 shards of broken glass, each representing a life lost during the Anfal campaign. There are also 4,500 backlights that symbolize the Kurdish villages destroyed during the campaign. Visitors can explore the multi-story administrative building, which still bears the scars of bullets from the Kurdish Peshmerga's capture of the complex during the 1991 uprising. The museum also features heavy weaponry, including tanks and anti-aircraft guns, and a statue of Saddam Hussein that was destroyed by the people of Kirkuk during the Iraqi liberation but later restored and presented to Amna Suraka. Amna Suraka stands as a testament to the resilience and courage of the Kurdish people, offering an enlightening experience for those seeking to understand the complexities of human rights struggles.

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