Zeynep Akın/JINHA

ÊLIH - Hasankeyf women, who react to Ilısu Dam, don't want their homeland, where they were born and grew up, to remain under water. "Our memories, life and burial sites will remain under water," said the women. One of these women, Halime Tapkan said, "I don't want the dam; we want to live on our lands, free."

Hasankeyf is the only place in the world that meets nine of the 10 UNESCO criteria. Yet, the Ilısu Dam would annihilate this historical site. Women who live in the region say they would be forcibly displaced by the construction of the dam: "Our past, memories and values will be annihilated." Mevlüde, one of the women living in Kesmeköprü (Qure) village close to Hasankeyf, says their past will be annihilated if Hasankeyf is destroyed. "We have burial sites here. I lost five of my children, and we buried them here. I often visit their graves. They will leave my children's graves under water." said Mevlüde.

Mevlüde stated they don't want to leave their village; however, they will be forcibly displaced and she said, "I love Hasankeyf and we don't want to leave it. We cannot live in cities anymore. We are used to living in the village. We are free in our village. If we are sent to cities, we will become prisoners. We were born and grew up here, and we want to die in our village. If Hasankeyf is annihilated, our way of life will be annihilated, too."

Another woman, Halime Tapkan, meanwhile, noted that they are used to living in the village and don't want Hasankeyf to be submerged. Halime said, "We have animals and lands in our village. What can we do if we leave here? We buried our mothers and fathers in these lands. All of our memories are here. Everything we have will be under water. Don't let our memories and life remain under water. We don't want the dam; we want to live on our lands, free."

(mg/gd)