Story By: Feza Uzay, Sub-Editor: Marija Stojkoska, Agency:  Newsflash

A Turkish great grandmother who was a teenager during World War I has passed away at the age of 122.

Emine Baytar, who lived in the neighbourhood of Andac in the district of Edremit in the south-eastern Turkish city of Van, died on 4th December.

Her identity card said that she was born in 1898 in the Caucasus region, and lived with her 65-year-old grandson Faris Baytar and his family until she died.

Emine was 16 years old when World War I broke out and her hometown was briefly held under Russian control.

After the War of Independence, the Eastern Anatolian lands lost by the Ottoman Empire in World War I were taken back from Russia by the Turkish Republic.

Emine Baytar was 25 years old when peace finally reigned in her homeland.

She had five children in her youth, which was a period of post-war difficulties and poverty.

She also had nearly 80 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

Edremit mayor Ismail Say shared the news of Emine Baytar’s death on his social media account, saying: “Grandma Emine, Turkey’s oldest woman, who was 122 years old and had many great-grandchildren, has passed away.”

The mayor added: “May she rest in peace. I offer my condolences to all her family and relatives.”

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