Police intervention in Hasankeyfies' rights request action

BATMAN - Hasankeyf residents protested the notification of the 16th Regional Directorate of DSI regarding the evacuation of the bazaar and some houses. Police intervened protesters with pepper spray and water.

In Turkiye's Batman, in ancient Hasankeyf town, residents who did not accept the notification sent by the 16^th Regional Directorate for State Hydraulic Works [DSI] about the evacuation of some houses with Hasankeyf bazaar on February 22, wanted to press release in front of the district governorship building. The police, who stopped the citizens on Hasankeyf Bridge, requested citizens to end the march.

Speaking on behalf of citizens, Hasankeyf Kale [Castle] Neighborhood head Murat Batıhan stated that they will not evacuate houses and businesses until the new settlements in Hasankeyf being completed and delivered to the rights holders.

Batıhan emphasized that they insisted on walking to the district governor's office to send their demands to the authorities. The police made an announcement with riot control vehicle [TOMA] to the citizens to end their protest otherwise will use force.

Citizens who insisted on walking, including women and children, were intervened with water and pepper spray. During the intervention, women and children in the group of about 100 people were affected by water and pepper spray.

Hasankeyf County District Governor Faruk Bülent Baygüven, who came to the scene, said he would do his best to solve the problem by meeting with the citizens. (ILKHA)