Crime against humanity in Hasankeyf

There is a crime against humanity being committed in Hasankeyf which, with its 12 millenia long history, will be flooded when the Ilısu Dam is completed.

People from Hasankeyf say the destruction of the 12 millenia old ancient city is a crime against humanity and the world should not remain silent in the face of that.

Hasankeyf resident Musa Şengel stated that the foundation of humanity was laid in Mesopotamia, and human history and all its mysteries are hidden in the ancient city of Hasankeyf and said the grave discovered last year was 15 thousand years old. Şengel said, “Hasankeyf is the heart of Mesopotamia. It is the identity of history and humanity. People should not remain silent. We will continue to defend Hasankeyf.”

THEY LOOT EVERYTHING

Tourism worker Fırat Argun, who has been defending Hasankeyf in all platforms for years to keep the city alive, stated that even mosques have been demolished with construction equipment with no regard. Argun said: “They first tore down the mosque in Hasankeyf. This ugly approach is disrespectful to our faith. Then they demolished the homes of district residents. Those who could demolish the house of Allah could of course tear down the houses of citizens with great ease. They even tore down the nests of incubating animals. Everybody should stand up against this tyranny.”

THE MOVE IS FOR SHOW

Recenty some artifacts have been moved to different locations under the guise of preserving Hasankeyf, but the globally important historic treasures in the ancient city have both been damaged by construction equipment, and are doomed to be flooded. As Hasankeyf goes through the last of its times, domestic and foreign tourists rush to the area to see the ancient city for one last time before it is destroyed.