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Zilan massacre

SOLVED1930Zilan Valley, near Erciş, Van Province, Turkey3 SOURCESUPDATED JUL 2026
Illustrative

The Zilan massacre refers to the killing of large numbers of Kurdish civilians by the Turkish Land Forces in the Zilan Valley of Van Province on 12–13 July 1930. The killings occurred during the broader Ararat rebellion, an armed Kurdish nationalist uprising centered on Mount Ararat in Ağrı Province. The operation in the Zilan Valley, north of the town of Erciş on Lake Van, was carried out by the IX Corps of the Turkish Third Army under the command of Ferik (Lieutenant General) Salih Omurtak. Reported death tolls vary widely, from 4,500 women and elderly people to figures as high as 15,000, the latter cited by the newspaper Cumhuriyet.

The background to the massacre includes the earlier Sheikh Said rebellion and subsequent Turkish government policies of forced relocation of Kurdish aristocrats and religious leaders, formalized through the 1927 "Law on the Transfer of Certain People from Eastern Regions to the Western Provinces." In 1927, the Kurdish nationalist organization Xoybûn was founded and later declared the Republic of Ararat, with Ihsan Nuri Pasha leading the insurgency. After failed negotiations, the Turkish cabinet, led by Mustafa Kemal (Atatürk), authorized a military operation against Mount Ararat in a December 1929 decision, with General Staff orders in January 1930 directing forces to clear Kurdish villages and displace populations.

Armed conflict began in June 1930, and a Kurdish offensive—referred to by Turkish authorities as the Zeylan Rebellion—crossed from Persia and attacked gendarmerie positions. In response, the Turkish army deployed the VII and IX Corps along with 80 aircraft beginning 8 July 1930 in what was described as a "cleaning operation." Cumhuriyet correspondent Yusuf Mazhar reported by telephone on 12 July 1930 that the operation in the districts of Erciş, Mount Süphan, and Zeylân was complete. Cumhuriyet's 16 July 1930 edition reported approximately 15,000 rebels killed and described the Zilan River as filled with bodies as far as its mouth. Ibrahim Tali Öngören, the general inspector overseeing the region, stated on 15 July 1930 that the annihilation was carried out by troops with local assistance, and that villagers who had helped rebels were also killed. The British Foreign Office assessed that Turkish "successes" near Erciş and Zilan were achieved largely against non-combatants rather than armed fighters.

Surviving witnesses cited in the Wikipedia article include Nazi Erol, who reported that her child and other women in her family were killed while she survived by hiding under corpses; an account relayed through Mehmet Pamak describing machine-gun killings of men, women, children, and the elderly, and the bayoneting of an infant and an elderly woman; and Kakil Erdem, who described the deaths of 35 relatives, including through bayoneting and beating.

The massacre later influenced Kurdish and Turkish literary and journalistic work, including writings by Musa Anter and novelist Yaşar Kemal. In 2007, journalists Ercan Öksüz and Oktay Candemir published an interview with elderly witness Kakil Erdem; both were subsequently tried and, in 2009, sentenced to 18 months in prison for "inciting hatred and hostility."

Key facts

Victims
Nazi Erol, Kakil Erdem
Date
1930
Location
Zilan Valley, near Erciş, Van Province, Turkey
Case status
solved

Case timeline

  1. 1925-09-08

    Reform Council for the East established following the Sheikh Said rebellion.

  2. 1927-07-17

    Law enacted authorizing transfer of certain people from eastern regions to western provinces of Turkey.

  3. 1927-10-05

    Kurdish nationalist organization Xoybûn founded in Greater Lebanon.

  4. 1927-10-08

    Xoybûn declares independence of the Republic of Ararat.

  5. 1928-05-09

    Turkish government enacts amnesty law for oppositional Kurds.

  6. 1929-12-29

    Turkish cabinet, led by Mustafa Kemal, decides to begin a military operation against Mount Ararat in June 1930.

  7. 1930-01-07

    General Staff sends operational order to IX Corps regarding clearing of Kurdish villages.

  8. 1930-03-18

    Salih (Omurtak) appointed commander of IX Corps.

  9. 1930-06-11

    Armed hostilities initiated by Turkish military against Ararat insurgents.

  10. 1930-06-19

    Kurdish rebels cross from Persia, cutting telegraph lines and raiding Zeylan district center, beginning what Turkish authorities call the Zeylan Rebellion.

  11. 1930-07-02

    Salih Omurtak issues official report on rebel positions north of Lake Van.

  12. 1930-07-08

    Turkish army begins 'cleaning operation' using VII and IX Corps and 80 aircraft.

  13. 1930-07-12

    Cumhuriyet correspondent Yusuf Mazhar reports the cleaning operation in Erciş, Mount Süphan, and Zeylân districts is completed; commonly cited date of the massacre.

  14. 1930-07-13

    Date generally considered as when the massacre took place.

  15. 1930-07-15

    Inspector General Ibrahim Tali Öngören states annihilation was carried out with local assistance and that villagers who helped rebels were also killed.

  16. 1930-07-16

    Cumhuriyet reports approximately 15,000 rebels killed and describes the Zilan River as filled with bodies.

  17. 2007

    Journalists Ercan Öksüz and Oktay Candemir publish interview with 94-year-old witness Kakil Erdem.

  18. 2009

    Öksüz and Candemir each sentenced to 18 months in prison for 'inciting hatred and hostility' over the interview.

Best coverage

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People

  • Oktay Candemir

    CONVICTED

    Dicle News Agency journalist convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for publishing an interview with a Zilan massacre witness, on charges of inciting hatred and hostility.

  • Ibrahim Tali Öngören

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    General inspector of the First Inspectorate-General who reported on the annihilation operation and casualties.

  • Ercan Öksüz

    CONVICTED

    Dicle News Agency journalist convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for publishing an interview with a Zilan massacre witness, on charges of inciting hatred and hostility.

  • Nazi Erol

    VICTIM

    Survivor whose child and other female relatives were killed in the massacre; she survived by hiding under corpses.

  • Kakil Erdem

    VICTIM

    Living eyewitness of the massacre who described the killing of 35 relatives, including by bayoneting and beating.

  • Salih Omurtak

    LAW ENFORCEMENT

    Ferik (Lieutenant General) and commander of IX Corps, Turkish Third Army, which carried out the operation in the Zilan Valley.

Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.

Places

Zilan Valley, near Erciş, Van Province, Turkey

39.3167, 42.1667

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Common questions

What happened to the victim?
In July 1930, Turkish military forces killed thousands of Kurdish civilians and rebels in the Zilan Valley near Erciş, Van Province, during operations connected to the Ararat rebellion.
Where did the massacre happen?
Zilan Valley, near Erciş, Van Province, Turkey.
Who was convicted?
Oktay Candemir (Dicle News Agency journalist convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for publishing an interview with a Zilan massacre witness, on charges of inciting hatred and hostility.) and Ercan Öksüz (Dicle News Agency journalist convicted in 2009 and sentenced to 18 months in prison for publishing an interview with a Zilan massacre witness, on charges of inciting hatred and hostility.).
What is the current status of the case?
Status: solved.
More cases in Türkiye

Sources

  1. Zilan massacrewikipedia · Wikipedia · 2026-07-07
  2. Contemporaneous coverage — taraf.com.trnews · taraf.com.tr · 2026-07-07
  3. Contemporaneous coverage — radikal.com.trnews · radikal.com.tr · 2026-07-07