It was not until the publication of the book Notre ami le Roi (Our friend the King) by French journalist Gilles Perrault in 1990 that the issue was raised at a political level.

[3] In 1991, and after pressure from international human rights groups and some foreign governments, Hassan II of Morocco decided to close down the prison and release the last remaining detainees.

While torture and ill treatment occurred, the appalling prison conditions were the biggest threat to the lives of inmates.

The camp was closed along with several others of its kind, but Tazmamart remains a particularly powerful symbol of the "years of lead" in Morocco.

[10] Rumours persist about the existence of other such camps in Morocco, as it has been documented that secret detention and torture of suspects continues, possibly in collaboration with the American CIA (see Black sites).

The Moroccan writer Tahar Ben Jelloun has written This Blinding Absence of Light, based on the experiences of one Tazmamart prisoner.