After video footage got viral in the media, showing the detonation of Hasankeyf's historical caves, an envoy of lawyers from bar associations in Amed and Batman headed to Hasankeyf and investigated the scene.

Besides the desecration of an ancient history by the dam project that the AKP government continues to build on Hasankeyf’s river for some time now, also historical caves got demolished with dynamites by the dam construction company on 14 August.

An envoy formed thereafter out of Amed and Batman Bar Associations gathered information from Hasankeyf's citizens and merchants, before their investigation continued on the site of the detonated ancient caves.

Following the observations, Head of Amed Bar Association Ahmet Özmen issued a statement on behalf of the envoy, and said: "Do not sacrifice history of 12000 years for a dam that will sustain for 50 years alone. What we came to see here is a saddening picture. They have demolished huge boulder and rock formations with dynamite. We have spoken with the local merchants, citizens and people of the region. They do not want to leave their land and home. They do not want their home and land be flooded. But they cannot do anything because their homes and land have been usurped."

Özmen stated that the citizens are forced to resettle in New Hasankeyf area built across the Tigris River, and said: "The place the people lived in before, and the one constructed now are two different worlds. Hasankeyf is the humanity’s greatest witness of the past. It is the heritage of all humankind, leaving 12000 years of history behind. This area housed dozens of civilizations. There is none that equals it in the whole world. You don't have the right to sacrifice the 12000 years old history for a dam that will last 50 years. Along with the historical site, 400 mounds also get destroyed. Each of those mounds have their own special history. Instead of digging up the history of those mounds and sharing it with the world, the state floods the history to never let it come to light. Everyone should support us and rise up against the destruction and desecration of history."