series that has consisted of the reports of both Turkish
military and civilian prisoners held by the Greeks mostly
in camps in Greece between 1920 and 1923.
The reports are graphic enough but living through what
was described takes one's imagination to another level
of virtual pain and suffering.//
5.When it comes to the treatment
imposed during the period of
captivity: in the first place, because of the Greek policy of destruction,
such things as banishment, degradation, beatings, unjust imprisonment,
seizure of money by force were always implemented. Complaints
only brought more of the same. Supposedly, prisoners were to be
given soldiers rations but as we witnessed time after time, food for the
prisoners was first diverted away by everyone from the camp’s Greek
soldiers to their commanders, making hunger and misery the order
of the day for the prisoners.
captivity: in the first place, because of the Greek policy of destruction,
such things as banishment, degradation, beatings, unjust imprisonment,
seizure of money by force were always implemented. Complaints
only brought more of the same. Supposedly, prisoners were to be
given soldiers rations but as we witnessed time after time, food for the
prisoners was first diverted away by everyone from the camp’s Greek
soldiers to their commanders, making hunger and misery the order
of the day for the prisoners.
Essentially, because the food was
stolen and therefore insufficient,
the prisoners ate rice in olive oil that was more like dishwater and so
disentery and diarrhea were rampant. What was called food was
only distributed accompanied by all sorts of insults. We made this
known to Raydmon Shellamer and the other Red Cross
representatives but even the slightest complaint resulted in beatings,
severe degradation and even banishment.
The clothing situation was pretty much the same as the food situation.
With regard to housing: most of the tents and stables that our prisoners
lived in were not waterproof so it was impossible to keep the interior
dry. At every camp, the stables that housed 150 prisoners for sleeping
had old wooden roofs so the rain would come through and the naked
prisoners got wet. Our repeated petitions and complaints were useless.
Actually, all of the treatments imposed on us were against international
law and there were no exceptions. Even on holidays our prisoners
were made to work in complete degradation. At the beginning of our
incarceration, the call to prayer and praying itself were absolutely
forbidden. Our prisoners made a list of all these transgressions and
presented them in a petition to Adis Efendi, the representative of our
foreign ministry assigned to the Embassy of Holland in Athens. The
petition was signed by 150 prisoners. The foremost of our prisoners’
complaints were the atrocities and poor food listed above, as well as
the theft of our money and our letters, which were either never given
to us or only after a long delay.
the prisoners ate rice in olive oil that was more like dishwater and so
disentery and diarrhea were rampant. What was called food was
only distributed accompanied by all sorts of insults. We made this
known to Raydmon Shellamer and the other Red Cross
representatives but even the slightest complaint resulted in beatings,
severe degradation and even banishment.
The clothing situation was pretty much the same as the food situation.
With regard to housing: most of the tents and stables that our prisoners
lived in were not waterproof so it was impossible to keep the interior
dry. At every camp, the stables that housed 150 prisoners for sleeping
had old wooden roofs so the rain would come through and the naked
prisoners got wet. Our repeated petitions and complaints were useless.
Actually, all of the treatments imposed on us were against international
law and there were no exceptions. Even on holidays our prisoners
were made to work in complete degradation. At the beginning of our
incarceration, the call to prayer and praying itself were absolutely
forbidden. Our prisoners made a list of all these transgressions and
presented them in a petition to Adis Efendi, the representative of our
foreign ministry assigned to the Embassy of Holland in Athens. The
petition was signed by 150 prisoners. The foremost of our prisoners’
complaints were the atrocities and poor food listed above, as well as
the theft of our money and our letters, which were either never given
to us or only after a long delay.
Conclusion: with regard to the
experiences of captivity, the
abovementioned incidents are but a summary and an index-like guide.
Consequently, our complaints about the treatments and degradations
we suffered in Greece are primarily comprised of these and we sign
our named in confirmation of this.
abovementioned incidents are but a summary and an index-like guide.
Consequently, our complaints about the treatments and degradations
we suffered in Greece are primarily comprised of these and we sign
our named in confirmation of this.
Azmi, son of the late Shaikh Avni
Efendi
İhsan, son of Osman Bey of
Karabaş village
Salahuddin, son of the müfti
Izmit lawyer Alı Vasfı
Mehmed Nuri, son of Hacıhazırda
Fuul
In accord with the original,
dated 7 June 1923
İzmit Statistics Director Mehmed
Tevfik
Turkish and Greek Prisoners in the Turkish-
Greek War (1919-1923) by Cemalettin
Taşkıran.
//END of PART XXIX-B/FINAL//
Turkish and Greek Prisoners in the Turkish-
Greek War (1919-1923) by Cemalettin
Taşkıran.
//END of PART XXIX-B/FINAL//
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