BATMAN - European Parliament Culture and Education Committee Member Julie Ward, who expressed the need to fight to protect Hasankeyf, called out to the government and said: "Don't do the Ilısu Dam, listen to your people!'

 

The struggle continues while the construction of Ilısu Dam that will submerge 12 thousand year old historic Hasankeyf alsa continues.British Labor Party and European Parliament Culture and Education Committee member Julie Ward, emphasizing that Hasankeyf should not be submerged, have sent a letter to AKP President and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in the previous weeks. Ward who could not recieve a response to her letter, called on to Turkey to act in accordance with the international law and urged Turkey to take steps to keep Hasankeyf and the Tigris Valley alive.

 

 

'TURKEY MUST FOLLOW THE LAW'

 

 

Ward who stated that regardless of where it is, the cultural heritage should be protected, said the destruction of human heritage is a crime against humanity.

 

Ward, arguing that further strengthening of international law to protect natural habitats, said: "The existing laws are sufficiant for Hasankeyf. However Turkey's government does not comply with the laws. For example, there are laws on the treatment of refugees, right? But Mr. Erdoğan does not adobt those conventions too. There are also laws on the treatment of political prisoners, like Mandela Convention. We know that Mr. Erdoğan does not comply with those laws as well. Here's the problem.Turkey has been violating many international conventions already. These show that Turkey is now a rogue state."

 

CRIMINAL COMPLAINT

 

 

Politicians have a duty to disclose states that do not operate the laws, Ward noted, "We have a responsibility to file a criminal complaint about the politicians who do not comply with international agreements."

 

 

 

'I TOLD ERDOGAN ABOUT THE THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN'

 

Ward said her letter to Erdoğan included the followings: "I emphasized the international importance of Hasankeyf. I told him that Hasankeyf is amongst the 100 cultural heritage in the world that is in danger. That actually must be enough to get the global importance of Hasankeyf. I told him how it will effect the consciences of the people if it is destructed, and I told him about the economic importance of it in the region. This project puts the jobs o 80 thousand people in jeopardy. I told him about the international environment consciousness and the responsibility to neighboring countries. Because the river Tigris continues in Syria and Irak and if you build a dam here, it will have an effect down the river.

 

 

'PRESS IS SILENT'

 

Ward who critisized the press for being unresponsive to Hasankeyf, said the reason for the lack of awareness in the dam project is the media keeping it away from the public awareness.

 

'I WAS TERRIFIED ABOUT SUR AND NUSAYBIN'

 

Ward noted that the Kurds had gone through a process of severe destruction of historical memory spaces, and said she saw the destruction of Sur and Nusaybin and was appalled. Stressing that there is an equivalent operation to the genocide policy towards Kurdish history and culture, Ward said that the closure of Kurdish children's television is an example of this. Calling that the practices towards Kurdish history are not acceptable and everyone should take action, Ward said: "Write in capital letters and tell them; Please do not do the Ilisu Dam. Wait, engage in a proper and participatory discussion with your people.Listen to your people, listen to the experts, because more than you have destroyed so far will be destroyed in the process."