The Official State Gazette has today published the designation of the building that housed the Directorate-General of Security during the Franco dictatorship as a Place of Democratic Memory. This recognition highlights the central role that this property played in the political and social repression of the era, as detailed by the BOE itself.
Ángel Víctor Torres, Minister of Territorial Policy and Democratic Memory, has celebrated this statement, asserting that it is good news for those who value freedom and human rights. According to the minister, "all Democrats should be pleased" with this measure that seeks to prevent the repetition of such "ignominious acts".
The building, located in the Real Casa de Correos, now the seat of the Government of the Community of Madrid, was the scene of torture and the deaths of people who fought for democracy. After the Civil War, it became an epicenter of surveillance and repression against those deemed opponents of the regime, according to the BOE, which includes testimonies about the brutality of these methods.
In the coming days, the BOE will also announce the designation of other significant sites as Places of Democratic Memory. Among them are the firing squad wall of Madrid's East Cemetery, known as La Almudena Cemetery, and Madrid's Provincial Prison for Men, also known as Carabanchel Prison. Both sites symbolize the pain and the struggle for justice during Francoism.
The Cemetery of La Almudena was the scene of extreme violence between 1939 and 1944, where it is estimated that 2,936 people were murdered. The Carabanchel Prison, built by the regime, was associated with political repression and housed union leaders and political leaders during the transition to democracy. Despite the inhumane conditions, he became a symbol of resistance against the regime.
This recognition seeks to renew the commitment to historical memory and to ensure that these atrocities are not repeated, preserving the memory of the victims and their struggle for justice and freedom.
Source: Ministry of Territorial Policies and Democratic Memory.
