Infamous Nizarke Fortress in Duhok to be transformed into national museum

DUHOK — Once a site of torture and imprisonment for thousands of civilians under the former Baath regime, Nizarke Fortress in Duhok is now being redeveloped into a national museum dedicated to documenting the Anfal campaign and acts of genocide.

According to the Media and Information Directorate, the project, with a budget of $5 million, will be carried out in several stages. Built in 1985 by the Baath regime, the fortress served as one of the main centers for detaining and torturing residents during the Anfal operations. More than 3,000 people were arrested there, and thousands of others were subjected to torture.

The directorate said the renovation project covers an area of 117 dunams and will include several exhibition halls and specialized spaces for displaying documents and evidence related to the Anfal campaign and genocide. “The goal of this project is to revive the history of the Baath regime’s oppression and occupation for future generations and to preserve the memory of the victims,” the directorate said.

Features of the museum include dedicated halls for displaying historical documents and artifacts, special spaces for exhibitions, and modern facilities designed to preserve and present records of atrocities committed during that period.