Amna Suraka (Red Security Museum)

Amna Suraka (The Red Security Museum) in Sulaymaniyah is a former Ba'ath regime detention center, now serving as a national museum commemorating the Kurdish genocide and the Anfal campaign. The complex features the Hall of Mirrors, decorated with 182,000 broken mirror pieces (representing the number of Anfal victims) and 4,500 lightbulbs (representing the destroyed Kurdish villages), standing as a preserved crime scene and a testament for future generations. ⏳ History and Transformations: • 1979: Originally designed as an "Agricultural College" before becoming the Sulaymaniyah local administration headquarters. • 1983 - 1985: Converted into a heavily fortified security fortress (modeled after East German designs) for the General Security Directorate (Amna). • The Name: Popularly named "Amna Suraka" (Red Security) due to the red bricks used on its exterior facade. • The Ba'ath Era (1985 - 1991): Operated as a notorious secret prison where thousands of citizens, freedom fighters, women, and children faced brutal torture without trial. • The 1991 Uprising: On March 8 and 9, 1991, Peshmerga forces and local rebels stormed the complex, liberating all political prisoners after fierce clashes that eliminated hundreds of regime forces. • 2003: Initiated and supported by Hero Ibrahim Ahmed, the bullet-ridden building was preserved and officially opened as Iraq's first national human rights museum. 🏛️ Main Sections of the Museum: 1. The Anfal Hall: Documents the atrocities through mass grave photographs, personal belongings of victims, and campaign maps. 2. Prisons and Torture Rooms: Kept unchanged, featuring solitary cells, overcrowded mass cells, and mannequins illustrating interrogation methods. 3. The Courtyard and Heavy Weaponry: Displays captured tanks (T-55), fighter jets (MiG-21), and artillery used by the regime against Kurdish towns. 4. Peshmerga Martyrs Hall (Anti-ISIS): A modern wing dedicated to the Peshmerga fighters who fell in the war against ISIS. 5. Cultural and Art Gallery: A vibrant space hosting art exhibitions, cultural symposiums, and artistic events. 🌍 International & Tourism Significance: Amna Suraka has become a global destination for Dark Tourism. It welcomes thousands of foreign tourists, diplomatic delegations, and researchers annually. International journalists describe it as "the most moving and well-documented memorial museum in the Middle East