Moscovia Detention Centre Explained

Moscovia Detention Centre
Pushpin Map:Israel jerusalem#Israel
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Jerusalem
Location:West Jerusalem, Israel

The Al-Moskobiya, Moscobiyeh, Muscovite or Moscovia Detention Centre is an Israeli detention and interrogation facility and prison in the Russian Compound of West Jerusalem.[1] The center is used to interrogate Palestinian detainees and prisoners from a variety of age groups, including children. The Palestinian NGO Addameer has alleged that harsh methods of torture are used there.[2]

History

During the British Palestine Mandate the center was known as 'the central prison'. It has been claimed that the prison especially became notorious due to its harsh torture techniques throughout the 1980s.[2]

In 1990, it was reported that the jail was used mainly for Palestinians fighting Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Both the Moscovia Detention Centre and the nearby Museum of Underground Prisoners are yellow brick buildings that were built as part of a complex of hostels and a green-domed church for pilgrims by the Russian Orthodox Church in the 1860s.[3]

Popular culture

In 2017 a documentary by director Raed Andoni was released called Ghost Hunting (Arabic: إصطياد اشباح Iṣṭiyād ʾAšbāḥ). The movie, which explores the trauma of former prisoners of the Detention Center, was first screened in Ramallah for an audience consisting for ninety percent of former prisoners.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Book: Staff of Al-Haq / Law in the Service of Man . Punishing a Nation. Israeli Human Rights Violations During the Palestinian Uprising. December 1987 - December1988 . Boston . South End Press . 71 . December 1988 . 0-89608-379-9.
  2. News: Al-Moscobiyeh (The Russian Compound) Interrogation Center and Prison . 8 June 2018 . Addameer. Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association.
  3. News: Laub . Karin . Russian Compound: Symbolic Jails in Holy City . 8 June 2018 . ASSOCIATED PRESS . Los Angeles Times . 26 August 1990.
  4. News: Film recreates notorious Israeli detention centre. Abdessadok. Zineb. 1 March 2017. Al Jazeera Media Network. 10 June 2018.