Allegedly a mass grave where the bodies of 33 Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) members who died as a result of the use of chemical weapon was discovered in Bitlis. Bitlis is an area where 35 mass graves with 485 bodies had already been found.

Witnesses, who want to remain anonymous for security reason, applied to the Human Rights Association (ÝHD) Bitlis Branch for legal help to open the mass grave.

ÝHD Branch Chair Hasan Ceylan cited the allegation of witnesses; “In 1993, a group of PKK members and high rank commanders came to the countryside of Bitlis for a meeting. Village guards recognized them and called soldiers to make operation. During the operation, soldiers used chemical weapons during PKK members’ meeting and killed them. The bodies were thrown in a pit without covering them. Then the bodies were covered during a road construction. These are said by witnesses and we are going to have legal attempt to investigate and open this area.”