Earlier this afternoon, protesters gathered outside of AKBANK’s London Headquarters for KHRP’s action against the proposed Ilısu hydro-electric Dam project in south-east Turkey. The protest was one of a series of demonstrations that took place in front of the European branches of Turkish banks AKBANK and Garantibank in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Essen and Hannover. Following yesterday’s International Day of Action for Rivers, the protests sought to highlight the banks recent decisions to pledge financial support for the dam’s construction along the Tigris River, although the project continues to severely flout international law.

Green Party MEP and KHRP’s Advisor on Environmental Rights, Jean Lambert, Bengi Yıldız a local MP for Batman, Turkey, and KHRP Board Secretary Rajesh Rai, were among several speakers to draw attention to the potentially devastating impact of the dam if current plans continue unrevised. During the demonstration however, AKBANK refused to accept a letter of protest undersigned by KHRP, The Corner House, Bengi Yıldız, and Jean Lambert, MEP, urging the bank to consider the consequences of the proposed dam and calling for them to withdraw their support.