Iraq Plans Museum to Document Former Regime’s Crimes, Human Rights Official Says

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Nugrat al-Salman prison.

Saad al-Abdali, an adviser to the High Commission for Human Rights, said on Wednesday that the violations committed under the former regime affected all sections of Iraqi society, regardless of religion, ethnicity or sect. He also revealed plans to convert the Fifth Division headquarters into a museum documenting the crimes of the former regime.

Speaking to the Iraqi News Agency, al-Abdali said a committee had been established within the Prime Minister’s Office to oversee the “Memory of the Nation” project. He explained that the initiative was not intended to vilify the former regime, but rather to educate younger generations about the scale of the abuses committed in order to ensure they are never repeated.

He added that the Commission had visited several countries and examined museums dedicated to documenting the crimes of authoritarian regimes, stressing that such efforts are aimed at uncovering the truth and reinforcing a culture of human rights.

Al-Abdali noted that work is underway to transform the Fifth Division headquarters in Kadhimiya into a museum documenting the former regime’s violations. Each prison cell, he said, could present a different account of victims and abuses, including the plight of the Fayli Kurds, the execution of merchants, and the Sha’ban Uprising.

He further stated that Nugrat al-Salman Prison remains a symbol of the suffering endured by Iraqis, particularly the Fayli Kurds, noting that the mass graves surrounding the prison reflect the scale of the atrocities committed there.

He called for coordinated efforts by all institutions to document these crimes and violations through museums, memorials and panoramic exhibitions, stressing the importance of conveying these realities to younger generations to prevent their recurrence.

Al-Abdali also highlighted the role played by the Martyrs and Prisoners Foundation, the Accountability and Justice Commission, the Property Claims Commission, and the High Commission for Human Rights in securing the rights of victims’ families, martyrs and prisoners, as well as documenting crimes and abuses.

He stressed the need to transfer ownership of the Fifth Division prison to a human rights institution in order to convert it into a modern museum documenting the former regime’s crimes, particularly as it contains the gallows where thousands of young people were executed, including the execution site of Saddam Hussein.

He also noted progress in recent years within the governmental and educational sectors through the inclusion of material on the former regime’s crimes and human rights in school curricula. He underlined the importance of using other awareness tools, including museums, television programmes, drama productions and social media platforms such as TikTok, to help inform younger audiences.

Al-Abdali concluded by saying that the Iraqi people had endured severe violations both under the former regime and at the hands of terrorist organisations such as al‑Qaeda and ISIS. He urged the international community to recognise the sacrifices made by Iraqis and provide compensation, noting that Iraq served as the first line of defence against terrorism and prevented its spread to other countries.


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