Arrival in Otluk-kui

We arrived in Otluk-kui late at night, facing challenges in finding accommodation as most residents had retired for the night. Eventually, we encountered a helpful individual who directed us to a house where Mr. Baring had stayed the previous night, offering us a warm welcome. However, the hosts had little to offer in terms of sleeping arrangements due to the pillaging they had endured. Even basic items like cooking utensils had been looted.

Extent of Destruction

In Otluk-kui, approximately four hundred houses, out of a total of two thousand, were destroyed by fire. Although significant, the town suffered comparatively less damage than other villages, many of which were completely razed. Both churches and the bazaar were set ablaze, along with two boys’ schools. The girls’ school was spared destruction merely because it had not been identified by the arsonists Private Guide Turkey.

Atrocities Against Humanity

While the destruction of schools and churches is notable, it pales in comparison to the horrific atrocities perpetrated against humanity in Otluk-kui. Despite the somber nature of the insurrection’s narrative, there are moments of dark humor to be found. For instance, a Jewish peddler shared his ordeal with us, revealing a bizarre twist. Suspecting him of potentially divulging information about the ongoing events, the insurgents detained him, resorting to an unconventional method to ensure his silence. They compelled him to renounce Judaism, symbolized by placing a Bulgarian cap on his head and assigning him the Christian name “Ghiorghy,” or George. However, they stopped short of baptizing him, and their skepticism about his conversion was evident as they confined him to a private house within the village, prohibiting him from leaving.

The account of events in Otluk-kui illustrates the profound suffering inflicted upon its residents, not only through physical destruction but also through the dehumanizing acts committed against individuals. Amidst the grim narrative, there are glimpses of dark humor, underscoring the surreal and tragic nature of the events unfolding in the region.