Syrians, Iraqis Archive ISIS Jail Crimes in Virtual Museum

In a powerful testament to the brutality of Daesh, Iraqi scholar Muhammad Al-Attar shared his harrowing experiences after being imprisoned by the group in 2014, Arab News reported yesterday.

Arrested at his perfume shop in Mosul, Al-Attar refused to join the jihadists, leading to his torture in a crowded cell. He often cried under his blanket to shield his emotions from younger detainees, fearing it would lead to despair among them.

His story is part of a larger initiative, the Daesh Prisons Museum, which launched this month, featuring over 500 testimonies and virtual tours of former detention centers. Directed by Syrian journalist Amer Matar, the project aims to document the atrocities committed by Daesh, including the systematic abuse of minorities like the Yazidis. Matar, who has not found his abducted brother, hopes the archive will serve as evidence in future legal proceedings against the group.

The museum’s first physical exhibition at UNESCO in Paris runs until November 14, showcasing the grim realities faced by detainees and the ongoing quest for justice.