A new documentary exposes the involvement of Turkish security forces in the 1993 Vartinis Massacre, where nine Kurdish civilians, including seven children, were burned alive in their home in eastern Turkey.
On 3 October 1993, following a clash in the rural area of Altınova (Vartinis in Kurdish) in Muş province, Turkish soldiers set fire to the home of the Öğüt family. Eşref Öğüt, who was seven months pregnant, her husband Mehmet Nasır Öğüt, and their seven children aged between 3 and 12 were killed.
“The injustices experienced in this massacre summarise the Kurdish issue. If this documentary contributes to the international legal process and helps justice prevail, I will feel it has achieved its purpose,” stated director Ömer Biçer.
Despite a criminal complaint filed by sole survivor Aysel Öğüt, the case faced years of legal obstacles. In 2013, four security officials were finally indicted for “causing the death of multiple people by deliberately burning a house.” However, on 4 December 2023, the court dismissed the case due to statute of limitations.
The film, titled ‘Vartinis’, was produced by Nova Media at the request of Aysel Öğüt and residents of Altınova. It features testimonies from villagers, politicians, lawyers, and human rights organisations, aiming to present a comprehensive account of the massacre and its aftermath.
Biçer highlighted the ongoing impact of the massacre: “Despite 31 years having passed, it is still possible to see traces of this horrific event in the village. The bullet-riddled municipal building, civilian settlements, and the Öğüt family home, now converted into a museum, stand as unforgettable witnesses to what happened.”
The documentary is scheduled to premiere on 3 October, coinciding with the 31st anniversary of the massacre. It comes as Aysel Öğüt and her legal team prepare to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights, challenging the impunity granted to the alleged perpetrators by Turkish courts.
“This documentary aims to raise awareness internationally and contribute to the legal process at the European Court of Human Rights,” Biçer explained, emphasising the film’s potential role in the ongoing quest for justice.
The Vartinis Massacre is part of a broader context of human rights violations that occurred during the 1990s in Kurdish-populated regions of Turkey, amidst the conflict between the Turkish state and Kurdish armed groups.
