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

Explore Amna Suraka, the Red Museum in Sulaymaniyah: a poignant memorial to Kurdish resilience and a stark reminder of Iraq's turbulent past.

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Amna Suraka, or the Red Museum, in Sulaymaniyah, stands as a haunting memorial to the Kurdish people's suffering under Saddam Hussein's regime. Once a notorious prison, it now serves as a museum documenting human rights abuses and celebrating Kurdish resilience.

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 on weekdays to avoid crowds and have a more personal experience.
  • Allocate at least two hours to fully appreciate the museum's exhibits.
  • Entrance is free, allowing you to explore the exhibitions without any cost.
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Getting There

  • Walking

    From the center of Sulaymaniyah, head towards Saeed Kaban Street. Ask locals for directions to Saeed Kaban St, a major thoroughfare. Once on Saeed Kaban Street, walk straight for about 15-20 minutes. Amna Suraka, Red Museum, is on your right.

  • Public Transport

    Take a local minibus heading towards 'Saeed Kaban Street'. Ask the driver to drop you off near the museum. The ride takes about 15-20 minutes, depending on traffic. Walk a short distance along Saeed Kaban Street; the museum will be on your right. Bus fares are very cheap.

  • Taxi

    Taxis are readily available in Sulaymaniyah. A taxi ride from the city center to Amna Suraka typically costs between 4,000 to 5,000 Iraqi dinars (approximately $3 to $4 USD). Ensure the taxi is an official yellow taxi with a 'TAXI' sign.

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Discover more about Amna Suraka, Red Museum

Amna Suraka, meaning 'Red Security' or 'Red Prison' in Kurdish, is a powerful museum in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, that chronicles the atrocities committed against the Kurdish people during Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime. From 1979 to 1991, this site served as the northern headquarters of the Iraqi Intelligence Service, a place of imprisonment, torture, and execution for thousands of Kurds, Iraqis, and Syrians. In 1991, during the Kurdish uprising, Peshmerga fighters liberated the prison, and in 2003, it was transformed into a museum to document these human rights abuses. The museum's architecture remains largely intact, bearing witness to its dark past with bullet-riddled walls and preserved prison cells. Inside, visitors can explore exhibits featuring haunting photographs, reconstructed prison cells, and personal stories of victims. The Hall of Mirrors, a particularly moving installation, features 182,000 shards of broken glass, each representing a life lost during the Anfal campaign, a genocidal operation against the Kurds. 4,500 lights symbolize the destroyed Kurdish villages. Heavy weaponry, including tanks and anti-aircraft guns, are displayed in the courtyard. Amna Suraka serves not only as a memorial but also as a symbol of Kurdish hope, resilience, and the ongoing struggle for human rights.

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