8 images Created 19 Jan 2015
The last days of life of Hasankyef
Hasankeif, a medioevale jewel to peak on threatened Tigris of destruction from the construction of a next dam. An absolutely unknown, far from the tourist maps whit an unavailable fascination but probably a short life. With its history that spans nine civilizations, the archaeological and religious significance of Hasankeyf is considerable. Some of the city's historical treasures, mosques and Islamic tombs, will be inundated if construction of the Ilisu Dam is completed. It is estimated that 20,000 people in Hasankeyf will be displaced. The threat of the Ilisu Dam project prompted the World Monument Fund to list the city on its Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world. In December 2008 export credit insurers in Austria, Germany and Switzerland suspended their support for the project, concerned about its environmental and cultural impact. The Turkey’s Minister of Forestry and Environment, Veysel Eroğlu, declared that the government would build the Dam despite all obstacles. The Ilısu Dam became a "project of honour" for the Turkish State.
