Turkish Urban Legends No. 3: The Issız Cuma Cemetery – Where Gravestones Move on Their Own

We continue our exploration of folk horror beliefs from Anatolia with a paranormal urban legend centered around Çanakkale. What we find appealing about this particular story is that it isn’t the product of media sensationalism or a scenario that became an urban legend only after being featured in a horror film—it’s genuinely known among the local population. This article will examine the mysterious history of a cemetery that hosts a folkloric horror-themed urban legend, along with a narrative that can only be described as both haunting and tragic. Let’s uncover the secrets of Issız Cuma Cemetery together.

Located in the Yenice district of Çanakkale, Issız Cuma Cemetery (which translates roughly to “Desolate Friday Cemetery”) stands out as a place where history and legend intersect, enveloped in a mysterious and mystical atmosphere. The cemetery has played host to enigmatic events worth recounting—events that live on in both the local community’s memory and the imaginations of horror enthusiasts.

The Story Behind the Mystery

The story that made Issız Cuma Cemetery widely known is, at its core, quite tragic. In 1967, a woman named Hatice E. gave birth to a child but passed away shortly after delivery. Not long after her death, the infant she had brought into the world also died. The truly spine-chilling part of the story begins after this point. Following the burials, according to local accounts, the gravestones gradually moved toward each other over the years until they eventually merged. When the villagers noticed that the graves had joined together, they separated them, but after some time, the graves reunited on their own. This happened repeatedly. Eventually, the villagers accepted the situation and stopped trying to separate them. This mysterious occurrence soon became a legend known throughout the entire region. And like many urban legends, it has naturally found its way into film. The movie Siccin 2 is said to have been inspired by this event.

The Historic Structure and Its Legends

The mosque adjacent to Issız Cuma Cemetery—which also gives the cemetery its name—was built in 1335 and boasts a rich history spanning approximately 680 years. This historic structure has passed through various eras over time, holding an important place in the religious and cultural life of the local community. The mosque and cemetery have become intertwined with the stories and legends of the local people, standing at the center of mysterious events. This site remains a place where history and folklore converge, offering visitors both a historical and cultural experience. As we mentioned at the beginning, the legend surrounding the mosque and its environs is well-known among locals, and some village residents have even given statements about it to various media outlets.

A report on the historic mosque and cemetery.

One detail that caught our attention about the historic mosque is how far removed it is from the typical image of a mosque we’re accustomed to—it looks more like an oversized, abandoned village house. While mosque architecture has certainly varied across different centuries, it’s fair to say that this particular mosque’s design is quite unlike what most people would expect.

Paranormal Phenomena and Folkloric Beliefs

The events at Issız Cuma Cemetery bear interesting similarities to both the “vengeful ghost” phenomenon and the hortlak (revenant) belief found in Anatolian folk culture. Vengeful spirits typically remain in this world due to unfinished business or injustices they faced during their lifetime, while the Anatolian hortlak (a kind of undead/zombie in Turkish folklore) belief encompasses the idea that certain souls wander the earth after death. The story of these merging gravestones perhaps lies at the intersection of these two beliefs. Where it diverges from the vengeful spirit phenomenon is that there’s no clear element of revenge or injustice in this particular story. Similar to the hortlak belief, this event carries a mysterious element suggesting life after death, yet it lacks the frightening and threatening aspects typically associated with revenants. This story focuses more on themes of love and devotion, forming an example where paranormal phenomena and folkloric beliefs come together.

The secrets of Issız Cuma Cemetery continue to captivate visitors with both their historical and paranormal dimensions. The mysterious stories recounted in this article only deepen the curiosity surrounding the cemetery.