Amna Suraka, Red Museum

مۆزەخانەی نیشتیمانی ئەمنە سورەکە

معرض فني , پێشانگای هونەری

صبح برید حتما عصر ها بسته هستش

مۆزەخانەی ئەمنە سورەکە، مێژووی نەبردی و خۆڕاگری کوردانە.

هیوا ی سه ر که وتن

Having travelled 2 hours we arrived with about 40 minutes to closing. Everyone was so helpful in giving us advice on what to see and where to go. When closing time arrived, one kind gentleman kept the museum open for us and gave a tour of parts that had already closed. Very kind staff and a very important and informative museum in keeping Kurdish history alive and recognised.

Amna Suraka (Red Museum) Amna Suraka in Sulaymaniyah is a powerful and emotional museum that once served as a Baath-era prison. The original cells, bullet-marked walls, and survivor stories create a very raw and impactful experience. It’s a difficult but important place to visit for anyone wanting to understand Iraq’s recent history.

Open from 9:00-12:00 and 13:00-15:30; closed on Fridays. I prefer museums that include an overview/intro at the entrance of a section. This museum doesn't; it probably assumes that you know the entire history and are just going in for examples. The museum was informative, just not the most easy to navigate. Free to enter

Very nice experience to know more about the history of Kurdistan.

This museum is a powerful documentation of a tragic time in history. I think visiting it is an important part of any Kurdistan itinerary, and I give props to them for making such a powerful and immersive museum and having it be free. I wish I could give it five stars, but they seem to have the sort of weaponised incompetence when it comes to making the museum accessible. The hours listed are inaccurate. It is not intuitive to figure out how to navigate the museum, and they do not have an easy way to get those instructions. They refuse to post the correct hours on their brochure, on the building, or in the office. When I first arrived 2.5hrs after the listed opening time, I was surprised to find that they were closing in ten minutes. I suggested putting a sign to let visitors know and was told “What do you want us to do? This problem is not our fault. We’re just employees.” I came back on another day and was getting a bit overwhelmed walking to one gallery and then having to walk back to the reception to find out which one to go to next… Because the order isn’t the intuitive gallery 1, gallery 2, gallery 3 and so on. I asked the guy in reception if he could write down the order for me, but he could not. When I gave feedback to an English speaking guide about how it would be helpful to have the order either printed out on a sign or on a card for guests, He had a similar response to the one I spoke to about the hours … saying the problem was not his fault. He pointed out that they have a brochure, but the brochure—while useful for giving information about what is in each gallery—does not tell you the order to go through the museum or the opening hours. It does, however, have a map, and I recommend either using that or taking a photo of the one by reception so you can navigate around the expansive space if you visit. It’s a shame, because most of Kurdistan is friendly and welcoming. This museum seems clearly designed for both locals and tourists, with written content in multiple language languages. It’s frustrating to feel like an inconvenience for simply wanting to visit the museum or get clarity on how to navigate it. You could write the necessary information on a piece of paper with black marker and have it on the desk or in the window … It would take less than two minutes and drastically improve the accessibility and experience of visiting this important site….if the organization itself and/or the staff were motivated to do so. As I understand it, the hours are 9am — 11:45am and 1pm — 4pm Every day except for Friday (as they are closed on Friday). The order through visiting the day that I came was 3 to 5 to 6-7 to 11. Number 8 is the cafeteria. One of the galleries (I forget which one) is unrelated to the museum. And the others were closed (I’m unsure if that’s a permanent thing or if they will be incorporated later).

This museum was very difficult to go through for me because I have a lot of Kurdish friends. When I looked at the photos in other countries go through. In some of the photos you can see all the bullet holes from the resistance in the buildings, rooms that the Kurdish were kept in and some of the artillery and trucks used.

Amna Suraka (The Red Museum / متحف أمنه) Visiting Amna Suraka is an unforgettable experience that leaves a profound emotional and historical impact. The museum, once a security and detention complex, has been transformed into a powerful memorial that documents one of the most difficult periods in Kurdish history. Its preservation stands as a reminder of the suffering endured by thousands, and at the same time, it symbolizes the resilience, courage, and hope of the Kurdish people. The exhibits are thoughtfully curated, combining photographs, artifacts, personal stories, and restored cells that allow visitors to understand the gravity of what took place within these walls. The “Hall of Mirrors” and “Hall of Martyrs” are especially moving, offering silent tributes to the lives lost and the strength of those who survived. The staff and guides deserve special recognition — they are knowledgeable, respectful, and deeply committed to sharing the museum’s story with sensitivity and professionalism. They answer questions with care, provide historical context, and ensure that visitors feel both informed and emotionally supported during the visit. The museum grounds are well maintained, and the layout allows visitors to move through each section at their own pace, reflecting on the exhibits. The balance between historical preservation and accessibility makes the experience both educational and deeply human. Amna Suraka is not just a museum; it is a memorial and a lesson in humanity. Every visitor should come with respect and an open heart — it’s a place that changes your understanding of history and the enduring strength of the people of Kurdistan.

Imperdível! Essa visita e experiência vale cada minuto. Conhecer a história do povo Curdo e entender como tudo aconteceu é incrível e muito doloroso.

Egy börtönből átalakított múzeum, mely a kurd nép harcait és szenvedéseit mutatja be. Rengeteg megrázó fotó és emléktárgy idézi fel a kurdok küzdelmét. Szívszorító a börtönben a falakra rabok által írt feliratok látványa, a kínzások illusztrálása. Sajnos látogatásunkkor két épület zárva volt, de így is több óra a nagy komplexum bejárása. A látogatás ingyenes.

This is one of the extremely interesting historical places to visit in Kurdistan reguon. Even though it may be depressing, it is worth visiting a notorious prison where most crimes in tge region and human rights violations occurred for real. It is a large compound and has relics and artworks that can make your soul cry. We were unfortunate that we couldn't visit the Peshmerga museum that was inaugurated very recently. Evil, human pain, its is hard to imagine what those poor prisoners went through in what can only be described as hell on earth. We must always remember and always learn. İts open from 9-4 pm but from 12-1 pm its closed due to lunch time,,

Obowiązkowo trzeba odwiedzić. Przygnębiające muzeum. Wejście jest darmowe. Między 12 a 13:30 jest przerwa. Przydałoby się lepiej oznaczyć teren i dodać trochę więcej kontekstu dla zagranicznych odwiedzających.

Amna Suraka Museum in Sulaymaniyah is a deeply moving place that showcases the struggles, culture, and resilience of the Kurdish people. The museum is divided into several sections, displaying war artifacts, cultural exhibits, and stories of Kurdish freedom fighters. One of the highlights is the Mirror Room, which adds a unique and reflective experience. While most sections were open, one or two were closed during our visit. Entry is free, and the staff were courteous and welcoming. A suggestion would be to improve the maintenance of the museum to enhance the experience further. Overall, it’s a must-visit for those seeking to understand Kurdish history and heritage.

This is one of the most unique places in the world. It used to be the Iraqi intelligence office in the city of Sulayamaniya, with a secret prison and many torching facilities. After the liberation of the city by its people in 1991, the building was rehabilitated to a museum. Keeping many of the remnents of the prisoners and equipments used for torchering. A lot of qriting on the walls are preserved. There is also a tape recorded of the time which is tourchering a young person while investigation. Another part is about Peshmerga. The partisan fighters who were in the mountains and worked to free the people from such atrocities. Thousands of photos, tens of stuff which were used by them. You could also see several realistic paintings related to the live, senery and steive of Peshmerga. The founder is also a veteran Peshemrga and a fine painter. You might ask, what fight? What strive? And why tourchring? In fact, this city of Sulayamaniya is a part of the Kurdistan region in Iraq, and thus the Iraqi Government managed several genocidal campaigns aimed at cleansing the Kurdish people. This building was one of the Olice instruments in their hand. In the Museum, you will find a tunnel covered with 4500 pieces of broken mirrors which indicates 4500 Kurdish villages that were set to fire between 1986-1988 by the Iraqi dictator givernement. You will also find symbols for 182,000 kurdish people burried alive in a barbaric campaign named Anfal.

This museum stands to share the true and devastating history of the Kurds persecution, mainly by the Ba’athist regime. It is crucially important that this history is shared and understood. It is an honorable and sobering tribute to the Peshmerga as well as the Kurdish men, women, and children who devoted their lives—and many of them sacrificed their lives—for their nation and cause. It would be a 5-star experience if the museum was a little more organized and had better descriptions of what we were viewing to help us understand the context. But my wife and mom rated the bathroom 5-stars. It has a western toilet. Also you should know, they close from 11:45-1:00 for lunch. This is a multi-hour museum experience. 2ish hours.

In Friday you can’t see inside the museum Amna Suraka, also known as the Red Security or the Red Jail, is a former headquarters of the Iraqi Intelligence Service in Sulaimaniyah, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. After the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime in 2003, it was converted into a museum/memorial to commemorate the victims of Saddam's regime and to document the atrocities that occurred there during his rule. The building itself is a stark reminder of the brutalities inflicted upon the Kurdish people under Saddam's regime, particularly during the Anfal campaign and the Kurdish uprising in the late 1980s. It features exhibitions displaying prison cells, torture methods, personal stories of victims, and photographs documenting the suffering of the Kurdish population. Amna Suraka serves as a symbol of remembrance and a testament to the resilience of the Kurdish people in the face of oppression. It's a significant historical and cultural landmark in Sulaimaniyah, offering visitors insight into the dark chapter of Iraq's history and the struggle for freedom and human rights.