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With its extremely rich natural and cultural heritage
Hasankeyf is a unique piece of land...
According to historical records the city named as HISN KEYFA
by the medieval islamic historians had been given several names.
It is assumed that the name comes from its steep castle made of natural rocks
and fully protective geographical structure.
Noting the name "Hısn Keybâ" among others, 13th century geographer
Yakut el-Hamevi believed that it takes its root from Armenian.
The Roman historians named the city as "Kipas", "Cehpa" or "Ciphas"
Most probably coming from the Syriac word "kifa" which means rock and stone.
According to the islamic sources this area was known as "Hısn Luğûb"
and is mentioned as "Hısnkeyf" in the Ottoman documents.
Mesopotamia, located in between Euphrates and Tigris Rivers
is considered as the cradle of civilization...
It is where man left hunter-gatherer society behind and adopted permanent agriculture.
First houses, first villages, first cities were developed in between these two rivers
Inscription, the essence of literature and the means of the expression of emotions
had been formed here.
Mathematics, medicine and astronomy initially were discovered on this very basin.
First scale and measuring tools were used here.
Yet, this exceptional existence, persisted for millions of years, has been facing
extreme depredation and plundering for the last 60 years.
The ecosystem, alongside the Euphrates river and on the endless valley
has been destroyed by the dams...
Now all there is the Tigris river.
The last remaining natural river on southeastern Anatolia, the Tigris
plays a crucial role, not for humanity but natural history as well.
The Tigris Valley maintains its natural flow for hundreds of kilometers
forming, islands, sand dunes, steep cliffs
narrow valleys and wetlands.
Along its uniqueness this landscape is breathtaking.
Hence the valley located on the border between Europe and Asia
it hosts an extraordinary biodiversity.
The biodiversity inventory is ambiguous
since the living species on greater part of Tigris has not been examined.
The "Ilısu" dam is being constructed without any understanding of its environmental impacts.
If the dam project is realized as planned on this region
considerable number of living species is to perish.
In the last 60 years, no single development programme has been
initiated in the region due to the Ilısu Dam Project.
The historical monuments had been abandoned.
Although Hasankeyf is an incredible tourist attraction
no tourism development plans have been prepared.
As a result
the economy of the region has been severely damaged because of the dam.
So what comes next?
Following the completion of the dam construction
the water level will rise 65 meters.
In another word
the Hasankeyf bridge and the caves will be flooded
leaving only the top part of the minaret of El-RIZK mosque above the water.
Actually there is a way...
In order to save Hasankeyf and its unique surrounding,
it should promptly be declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
And being on the list depends on the ten criteria...
Tac Mahal in India only one
Angkor Wat Temple in Cambodia two
the Great Wall in China five
Pyramids in Egypt three
the Grand Canyon in USA four
and the city of Venice five out ten criteria.
However, Hasankeyf meets nine out of ten criteria...
Still, in order to be on the UNESCO list
the Ministry of Culture must apply.
The local government and people, instead of a dam which will serve for 50 years
demand development of projects that will enrich the region.
There use to be 14-15 family live in this village.
But because of politics, they left the village.
If they want it, they can save the Hasankeyf.
Is making the dam that big and powerfull worth that losing Hasankeyf?
keep the dam short like 90 meter instead of 100 meter.
at least you can save It like that.
Hasankeyf is not only belong to hasankeyf villagers
It also belongs to me, to Diyarbakır İstanbul, İzmir, japan
America, arabistan...
Hasankeyf belongs to world.
Even the residents give up resisting to relocate and destruction of Hasankeyf
rest of the world keep on fight against the dam project.
HASANKEYF! STAND UP!
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HISTORY!
HASANKEYF! STAND UP!
TAKE CARE OF YOUR HISTORY!
Ilısu Dam will produce 3,5 billion kWh. per year.
It is just a hydroelectric power plant not for irrigation.
Although government said this is a regional development project
it is not.
Because it just to produce electricity.
There is no economical contribution to the region
no industrial investment and employing will happen.
In direct contradiction
all the rank lands and a unique ancient city of Hasankeyf
will submerge.
After the announcement of the dam project in 1997 a big debate start .
I join that as a local authority.
If the dam finish and start to produce energy
it will produce only a one percent electric energy of Turkeys electric production.
But it also destroy this magnificent world heritage.
Not only local people but all humanity have to against this project.
Sacrificing the world heritage for a dam project
clearly show us the governments deprivation of culture and history conscious.
Another meaning, 70's wrong development plans are still effective.
Both local Hasankeyf and Batman people want to keep the Hasankeyf as it is
and save it for future.
Establish a tourism facilities and investments as soon as possible.
As a religion tourism
Hasankeyf is a very important center on an upper mezopotamia for
şhi'i, alevi and caferi's belief.
Like Assyrians and chaldean's jerusalem and Antakya.
It was also used as a primacy by Byzantine Empire, before İstanbul.
This anchient city also a birthplace of Mani the founder of Manichaeism religion.
Hasankeyf is a holly settlement for many religious and civilizations.
If the Ilısu Dam is constructed
Hasankeyf and 400 km² of its lake ecosystem will be flooded.
In 2009, the investment banks in Europe
withdrew unconditionally from the Ilısu Dam project
due to severe environmental and cultural damages it will cause.
Hasankeyf is an ancient city with its people
therefore the dam project is not only destroying the environment and history
but the people as well.
For 60 years, under the shadow of the dam
the people of Hasankeyf have been struggling to live on the land of their ancestors.
The uncertainly and fear of being kicked out prevent them
even driving a single nail in their own houses.
Following the completion of the dam
over 80 thousand people from 200 settlement areas
will have to migrate.
Those people used to living in small communities
will surely face serious problems in the big cities.
In the booklets published by the Ministery of Culture and Tourism
it is written that
"Through the Middle Ages, it turned into the battle arena of nations...
dominating in the Mesopotamia and it was exposed to invasions
but despite everything it manages to survive up till today."
Yet Ilisu Dam that will submerge the city is not mentioned...
Including the Ilısu Dam, costing 1.5 billion Euro there is 600 new dam projects exist.
The water usage right of 1600 creeks have been sold.
for the sake of hydroelectric power plants.
Hasankeyf is among the first settlements.
It is where wheat was first planted.
Its cultural and historical assets are the obvious evidence.
Hurrians and Mitannis
Shaykhs
Medes
Persians
Alexander the Great
Seleucids
Parthians
Tigranes the King of Armenia
Romans
Sassanids
Byzantines
Umayyads
Abbasids
şeyhoğulları
Hamdanids
Buyids
Marwanids
Seldjuks
Seldjuks of Damascus
Beyliks of Inalogullars
Nisanogullars
Ortokids of Hasankeyf
Ayyubids of Egypt and Damascus
Seldjuks of Anatolia
Artukids of Mardin
Mongols
Aq Qoyunlu's
Safavids
Sultan Selim I
Hasankeyf which hosted countless civilizations faced wars and destructions through ages
but managed to survive
is now about to disappear with its 12 thousand years history..