The Hasankeyf Coordination said that many demolition projects have been abandoned in the world due to the coronavirus epidemic and demanded the reversal of the decision on the Ilisu project and dismissal of mayors.

In a written statement, the Hasankeyf Coordination said: "The central government turns this situation into an opportunity while many projects around the world have been abandoned due to the coronavirus."

Reminding that many HDP-run municipalities such as Silvan, Lice, Ergani and Batman, were seized on Monday, the Hasankeyf Coordination noted that municipal seizure threaten public health.

The statement said: "The occupation and closure of these municipalities, which are fighting against the epidemic, making decisions together with the people in the water and waste problem and providing continuous service for their people to live in a healthy place, are a threat to public health. The government places local governments under its control through the appointment of trustees to the municipalities of Batman and Diyarbakır, thus ignoring the will of the people."

The statement continued: "It is obvious that the appointment of unlawful trustees is directly related to the Ilısu Dam and HEPP project. Destruction that occurred after previous trustee appointments is an indication of this. The fact that the appointment of the trustee took place 12 hours after the decision to postpone the payment of the water bills by the democratically and freely elected Batman Municipality shows that the trustee policy is also against the right to water. The appointment of trustees is an attack on the public's right to free access to water at a time of epidemic. The government continues its policies against the right to water even under these conditions."

The statement added: "Let us remind you that only five of the 199 villages planned to be completely or partially submerged have been built for new settlements. Villagers, who have nowhere to go, continue to live with the risk that the waters will submerge their homes. Villagers, whose villages are flooded and have no place to go, are forced to live in tents that they set up with their own means. Poor living conditions leave the villagers vulnerable to the epidemic."

The statement called for the Ilısu Dam and HEPP to be stopped immediately. "There is no explanation for the continuation of water retention, which affects 5 major provinces and districts throughout the Tigris Valley and poses a risk to close to 3 million people along with billions of living creatures during the central government stay-at-home campaign. DSI and government will be held responsible for the outbreak in the villages."

The Hasankeyf Coordination demanded that "the decision to appoint trustee be reverted and water retention in Ilısu Dam and HEPP is stopped immediately."