Guantanamo Bay detention camp, Military prison in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.
The detention facility contains multiple concrete buildings surrounded by electric fences and guard towers across 49.4 square kilometers of land territory.
The United States government established this military prison in January 2002 following the September 11 attacks to detain individuals captured during military operations.
The facility represents a significant point of debate regarding human rights, legal processes, and national security policies in the United States.
The detention center maintains maximum security protocols with 435 permanent Marines and additional military personnel overseeing approximately 40 detainees.
The facility operates under specific military jurisdiction on Cuban territory through a perpetual lease agreement signed between both nations in 1904.
Location: Guantanamo Bay Naval Base
Inception: 2002
Made from material: concrete
GPS coordinates: 19.90250,-75.10000
Latest update: May 28, 2025 14:27
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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