On the island of Mogador was built the Borj El Assa (surveillance bastion).
There are six old bastions
built in stone on the island. 4 late 18th century construction
of defensive fortresses constructed by the Sultan Sidi MOhammed
ben Abdallah and 2 others by Moulay Abderrahmane.
There is also a mosque
and a prison which was built in 1897 by order of
the Sultan Moulay Abdelaziz to lock up the rebels of Rhamna tribe ( Terhamla tribe -Tahar Ben Souleiman and his men) . After a few months of detention, by digging a tunnel under the perimeter wall, they will manage to escape but most will drown before reaching the shore.
The first secret prison for political prisoners before Dar Bricha and Tazmamart is the Purpuraires Islands in Essaouira
The open air prison also served as accomodation for the pilgrims who used to come from Mecca,
" The house of Quarantine" and they used to live ther for 40 days in order to learn about who was sick.

Rusty canons in a late stone
fortification. Bastion of the mosque.

The prison
A rectangular wall sufficient high with with only one way
in and out.
No roof.



EVENEMENTS du MAROC
MOGADOR - Berber prisoners taken to prison on the Island of Mogador,
by the order of Sultan Abdul Aziz (Sultan of Morocco 1878-1943)
Captured by the French, Haddou Ben Hammou Lakhal was exiled to the island of Essaouira in 1926, where he spent the rest of his life until 1950. Haddou Hamou Lakhal, the first fighter fighter pilot (resistance) in Morocco, was born in 1888 in the Rif area. He participated in the War of the Riffians and the forces of Spain and France (1921-1926) and was captured in 1927 by the French. He was imprisoned in the city of Essaouira until his death in 1950.
Read more here (Internal link)
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Source -link for this picture: photos-des-rares-moments-de-lhistoire.html

The 4 prison gates.
The only entry or exit was through these doors.
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