Civil society organizations tried to stop the government's construction of Ilıs Dam in Hasankeyf, because of the risk that it will give damage to history, cultural values ​​and nature in the region. However, attemps to stop the construction failed and the waters of Ilısu Dam have started to swallow the graves in 199 settlement areas. Apart from the limited number of historical buildings that have been transported, many historical artifacts dating from the Byzantine, Sassanid, Umayyads, Abbasids, Hamdanis, Marwani, Artuqids, Ayyubis and Ottomans were handed over to the water in the 12-thousand-year-old historical city of Hasankeyf.

 

Hasankeyf, which has suffered great damage in the invasion of Anatolia by the Mongols, it is on the verge of complete extinction due to the waters of Ilısu Dam after 760 years.

 

ORPHANE GRAVES

 

As a result of limited demands fulfilled, only a number of graves were transported from the flooded area, while thousands of graves were left do drowning. Thousands of graves are left in place on the grounds that they are "orphaned" (with no family to claim). On the other hand, the graves who has families to claim them are not bing transported even thouh the relatives of the deceased apply for it.

 

HELP REQUESTS

 

Families, who could not get respond to their applications with the request of transporting the graves applied to the Human Rights Association (İHD) Diyarbakır and Batman branches.

 

IHD INITIATIVES REACHED NO RESULT

 

İHD Diyarbakır and Batman branches initiated attempts applying to the relevant public prosecutors and municipalities, but all attempts have failed. 

 

THE MUNICIPALITY HAS GIVEN NO RESPONSE

 

İHD applied to Batman Municipality. However, municipal officials asked for the applications to be forwarded to the Hasankeyf Municipality with the grounds that graves are is within the responsibility area of ​​Hasankeyf Municipality. On the other hand, all the applications forwarded to Hasankeyf Municipality, remains unanswered as the municipality has given no response as such.

 

THE DELEGATION HAS BEEN SENT

 

İHD Diyarbakır and Batman branches received many applications regarding the graves to be transported. HRA sent a delegation to conduct an investigation in the region upon the increase in applications. The human rights delegation is expected to issue a report on the case after the investigations are over.