0:00 - Turkish Warzone, bodies being found, ect.

Earlier this year Turkish special forces launched attacks against a fundamentalist group called the Turkish Hizbollah. Many believe they may actually have been created by the Turkish State. They appear to have only ideological links with Iran's Hisbollah but are every bit as fanatical. But now they are being arrested and evidence of a ten year killing spree is emerging with the discovery of nearly 70 bodies so far. Suspicions of their links to the government came because their enemies were often government enemies, like the Kurds.

0:42 - Mosque, people being searched.

At Friday prayers in Istanbul's Süleymanye mosque everyone is searched. The discovery of scores of bodies in Hisbollah safe houses has brought tension to Istanbul‘s houses of worship.  Many moderate religious figures have also been attacked by the Hisbollah   and  cannot comprehend the fact that in secular Turkey such crimes were carried out in the name of God and perhaps, their government.  Did the state allow Hizbollah to get away with kidnappings, torture, and murder for nearly a decade?

1:15 - Oral Calishar‘s office

Journalist Oral Calislar has reported on the Hisbollah for years.  He asks why so many unexplained murders have taken place in the Kurdish town of Batman.

1:25-1:30 -- V/O: Oral Calislar, ‘Cumhüriyet' Journalist

The 1993 Parliamentary enquiry into the so-called Mystery Murders states: `There are clear signs of a link between Hisbollah and the state - the report cites several concrete cases in the Kurdish town of Batman. We've known for 7 years that the Hisbollah was being used as a weapon against the PKK, the Kurdish Workers' Party.  But it's only now that the PKK has laid down its arems that the state has started eliminating Hisbollah.`

Script, 2:03 - Calishar reading newspaper articles

Though some bodies, like that of Konca Kuris, have been found hundreds more suspected victims are untraceable. In the Kurdish area of Batman they attempted to create an ultra-fundamentalist core of Kurds. Anyone who resisted or called for moderation was killed.  Their leaders were feared for their extreme cruelty and love of torture.

2:27 -- Kuris on `Ayse Ozgun` show

The "Ayse Özgün" show was one of the many talk shows on which Konca Kuris appeared to discuss Islam. Talk show hosts invited her as a guest whenever the role of women in the Koran was an issue.

Konca Kuris defended her reformist views to an audience of millions and was vocal about her belief in a new interpretation of the Koran. Though she wore a traditional headscarf Konca Kuris believed that men and women should have greater equality under Islam.

3:02 -- Pics of Mersin, people walking down street, ect.

The port of Mersin in the East Mediterranean was Konca Kuris‘ hometown.  The traditional roles of the sexes are firmly established here. Women are traditionally married to a man they barely know and lead separate lives. Yet protest is getting stronger -- young people are rejecting strict Muslim traditions and that's been making the fundamentalists unhappy.

3:27 -- The Mersin women‘s group, pic of Kuris on wall, c/u on aunt

Konca Kuris had become an icon of that change. The Mersin women's group campaigned for Konca‘s release from her Hisbollah cell. Konca's aunt leads the group and says Konca was the only practising Muslim among them. Their motto is "Tolerance for Turks and Kurds, Believers and Atheists." One of Konca's friends, Nuran Öztürk, recalls how they first met:

3:54 - V/O of

‘I met her at a meeting here.  The first thing I noticed was that she was wearing a headscarf, which surprised me because our group is a very modern group.  Our topic for the day was divorced women.  Konca‘s view was that women should not be afraid to get divorced if the marriage isn't working, and that they should stand on their own two feet.  After that, it quickly became apparent how brave Konca was, and how willing she was to speak her mind.

4:32 -- Pics of Kuris‘ youth

Konca Kuris was from a middle class family. Even as a schoolgirl she attracted a lot of attention with her thirst for knowledge. She married young and had 5 children.

4:51 --  Konca‘s Aunt, Necla Ölcer

Konca was murdered in the name of faith - these people couldn't accept that she held a different opinion to them - she wouldn't be persuaded so they turned to violence. This murder goes to show that these people are incapable of solving conflicts without violence, and are incapable of accepting those who think differently.

It was a bitter experience for me  - I've been through some really hard times.  For a year and a half we just waited and hoped that the kidnappers  would return her to us. But we had to bury her 6 weeks ago.  We still can't believe that Konca is dead.

5:35 - Funeral scene, women mourning, wailing

Konca Kuris' funeral was in early February. For months, her family had hoped that the Hisbollah would issue a condition for her release.  But it was all tragically in vain.

In a crude statement Hizbollah announced she had been killed for her anti-Islamic beliefs.

6:01 -- Oral Calisar, Journalist, "Cumhuriyet"

Fifteen years of civil war in the Kurdish areas have laid all human relationships to ruin.  That's the reason for murders like this one.

Also, the culprits all came from regions where blood feuds prevail. They tolerate no mercy. Their interrogations and torture are cruel and violent.

And Hisbollah's followers are fanatical that's why they treated Konca Kuris the way they did.

6:27 V/O -- Nuran Öztürk

First of all she always found out the facts.  Then she expressed her opinion.  She was very courageous.  I think she is an example and an inspiration to Islamic women in Turkey and in all Muslim countries.

6:45 - Mersin Cemetary, Kuris‘ family at gravesite

Mersin cemetary - Christians, Muslims and Jews alike are buried side by side here. A sign of tolerance perhaps.  Konca Kuris' grave is still fresh.  The family visits it every Sunday in remembrance.

Pause for crying

7:19

Her parents reproach themselves -  did it really have to happen?  They talk about how their daughter got to know members of the Hisbollah.

7:24 -- V/O Nilüfer Genc (Konca's mother)

It happened more of less by chance - they were people from the neighbourhood and Konca was curious - women went to their meetings totally veiled!  Konca got to know them better, was open, and they became friends.  One of them was the son of my husband's colleague.  We knew these people well!

7:43 V/O Muzaffer Genc (Konca's father)

Konca knew them, but didn't know they belonged to the Hisbollah.  First she said to me ‘they're good people' and she liked them. But when they started talking about the Koran, she said ‘They're from Hisbollah!'

But Konca had no idea that these people were criminals.  For a while they studied the Koran together, then my daughter quite openly said ‘You're wrong!', which led to arguments. Konca said 'You are misinterpreting the Koran', and after this their ways parted.

8:30 Pics of searches for bodies, dragging them out, ect.

Eight hundred people - mostly Kurds - are still missing.  Hisbollah statements lead to new corpses being discovered all the time.

So far nothing has allayed the suspicion that the Hisbollah has been receiving support from the innermost political circles of the Turkish state. Will any light ever be shed on the dark machinations between the Turkish government and the bizarre organisations it recruited to help it in it's war with Turkish dissidents?

> > report: Klaus Ther

> > camera: Metin Cornik

Ø      > editing: Romana Meisnitzer-