BATMAN- Applicants who reacted to the fact that the application to ECHR in order to save Hasankeyf that has a 12 thousand yeas of history , from submerging was rejected and that the court decision have wounded the consciences.
For the protection of the cultural heritage in Hasankeyf with a history of 12 thousand years to be flooded due to the ongoing Ilisu Dam. Dr. Zeynep Ahunbay, Dr. Arık, Prof. Dr. Metin Ahunbay, Lawyer Murat Cano and Magma Magazine Editor-in-Chief Özcan Yüksek's application to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) on 22 February 2006 was rejected. Applicants and activists evaluated the ECHR decision to Mezopotamya Agency.
Reminding that the main reason for their application to ECHR was the protection of Hasankeyf, Magma Magazine Editor Özcan Yüksek said that they still have difficulty in understanding the decision and said,'Is the reason of this decision is Hasankeyf being in the east?' Yüksek who stated that the sources of the history of civillizations are in Hasanketf, said: "Did the Europeans took such a decision because it is not their history? This place is the common value of all people globally."
Regarding the ECHR's decision, Ridvan Ayhan, a spokesperson for the Hasankeyf Survival Initiative, said the ECHR was harassing and injuring the consciences. Ayhan emphasized the need to do something to fight for Hasankeyf, said: "The application to the ECHR was very valuable for us for the people of Hasankeys, but today the rejection decision is given.The archeologists of the world should come observe this destruction and more importanty and record the destruction". He added that the decision of the ECHR was political and added that Europe is now responsible for the destruction.