Khiam & Its Prison
Via Wikipedia
The village of Khiam is situated in the Nabatiyeh Governate in the south of Lebanon. "Khiam" is said to come from the Arabic word for "tents", as it might have been a resting place for travelers or nomadic groups in ancient times.
Like many villages in southern Lebanon, Khiam has endured its share of aggressions during the Israeli occupation. However, the suffering endured by this village stands out, marked by the profoundly harrowing legacy of the Khiam Prison, where countless prisoners were subjected to brutal torture. The memory of this torment lingers in the collective consciousness, as the village remains synonymous with the pain and resilience of those who lived through this dark chapter.
via Joana & Khalil
Via Joana & Khalil
Khiam Prison – originally an army barracks complex of the French military in the 1930s – became a notorious site of interrogation and detention under the administration of the South Lebanese Army (SLA), a proxy militia of Israel in 1985. It was “the largest interrogation and torture installation in Lebanon.” The prison earned a grim reputation as a torture camp over the years.
By 1999, Human Rights Watch had documented numerous instances of torture inflicted on detainees during the 1980s and 90s, including beatings, electric shocks, suspension by the wrists for hours, and other unspeakable brutal acts that violated the Geneva Conventions.
via Samidoun
When the Israeli army was driven out of southern Lebanon in May 2000, primarily due to Hezbollah's resistance, the closure of Khiam Prison followed. By then, around 5000 prisoners had suffered through its cells, the youngest being Rabab Shahrour who was taken for interrogation to put pressure on her detained brother.
The site was later transformed into a museum and memorial, honoring those who had been detained, tortured, killed, or otherwise endured suffering at the hands of the SLA and Israeli forces. However, in the 2006 war, the site was destroyed by Israeli airstrikes. Despite this, Khiam was reimagined once again as a memorial, with 14 steel billboards depicting the prison’s original form, set among the remnants of the razed museum. The site continues to symbolize the terror inflicted by the enemy and the enduring resilience of the Lebanese people.
