Thousands of astonishing cave dwellings, lived in through the ages, are tucked into the cliffs and hills around the city. Many perceive the destruction of Hasankeyf as part of a wider scheme of ethnic repression of Kurdish people by the Turkish state. As a holy site, Hasankeyf is extremely important. It holds the tomb of the holy Imam Abdullah, grandson of Cafer-I Tayyar, the prophet Mohammed s uncle. Around 30,000 pilgrims visit the tomb each year.
Women pray for fertility here and the sick come to be healed.
Nearby is the Mausoleum of Zeynel Bey. For the surrounding villagers, Hasankeyf has a unique and priceless appeal. It is an absurd question. No amount of money could compensate for the destruction of the town. The Ilisu dam will flood the entire valley, leaving almost no trace of Hasankeyf s long and glorious history.