The Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Tuol Sleng Museum, once a school turned Khmer Rouge prison and torture site, now serves as a haunting memorial to the genocide of the 1970s. Since its establishment in 1980, it has become a symbol of atrocity tourism, raising ethical questions about the display of crime and the politics of memory in Cambodia. The museum preserves vivid evidence of atrocities—torture instruments, photographs, confessions, and bones—creating a deeply disturbing experience for visitors. While international tourists visit with prior knowledge, Cambodians navigate its complex political role post-genocide. This study examines how such sites function as 'theatres of macabre spectacle,' prompting critical reflection on the global circulation of horrific histories.

Carrabine, E. (2023). The Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crimes: Phnom Penh, Cambodia. 50 Dark Destinations, 107–115. https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447362210-021