IKUSEZINAK

Throughout history, women's stories have been systematically invisibilized. Often, women's contributions, struggles, and realities are left out of the public spotlight, leaving important spaces unrecognized. A clear example of this historical invisibility is the Amorebieta-Etxano women's prison, a place that, although loaded with meaning, has gone unnoticed in the collective memory of many.

The Amorebieta-Etxano Women's Prison: A Space with History

Located in the current El Carmelo building, the Amorebieta-Etxano women's prison has a history that dates back to the beginning of the 20th century. Initially, between 1939 and 1940, the building served as a blood hospital during the Spanish Civil War. However, after 1940, this same space was transformed into a penitentiary enclosure exclusively for women and went on to house more than 1,200 women during the years of execution of their sentences.

This simple fact hides a much more complex reality: the women who were imprisoned in this centre, many of them victims of the political repression of Franco's dictatorship, faced a double sentence: that of being women and that of being opponents of the regime. The Amorebieta-Etxano prison was not only a place of punishment but also a place where women were silenced and largely forgotten by official history.

The Oblivion of Women in History

Over the years, the stories of these women, who were deprived of their freedom in a context of great repression, have remained in the shadows. The injustices they suffered, the suffering of their families and the repercussions these experiences had on later generations have not been sufficiently recognized or documented. We need to begin to look at these stories with a more inclusive perspective, one that is not limited only to the dominant narratives, but also looks at the stories of those who were systematically excluded.

The Relevance of Recovering Women's Historical Memory

Recovering the memory of the Amorebieta-Etxano women's prison is a way of making visible all those women who were condemned for the simple fact of being women, for their ideology or their struggle. It is necessary to reflect on the impact of this oblivion and the importance of rescuing these stories to build a fairer and more representative historical memory of all sectors of society.

Today, the El Carmelo building still stands, and this place must be recognized not only for its architectural value but also for its historical function as a women's prison. Remembering those who suffered within those walls is a way to honour their resistance and courage.