Amna Suraka, Prison museum in Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
Amna Suraka is a museum housed in a red brick building that documents this former detention facility through various exhibition areas. The site contains prison cells, art installations, military equipment, and records that illustrate conditions experienced by those who were held here.
The building served as the main headquarters of the Iraqi Intelligence Service from 1979 to 1991, functioning as a detention and interrogation center. This period represents a dark chapter in the region's past marked by systematic oppression.
The walls of prison cells bear scratched names and messages left by former detainees who recorded their thoughts there. These personal marks show how people expressed their hope and defiance under harsh conditions.
The museum is located in the city center and open most days of the week, though closed on Fridays. Entry is free, making it accessible to all visitors without cost concerns.
A striking art installation features thousands of small mirror shards covering a wall surface that creates a reflective and moving composition. This assembly was created as a memorial to a specific tragic event affecting many people in the region.
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