epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 17 December 2019). Turkey’s second-largest Ilısu hydroelectric dam project is being filled with the Tigris River despite protests. A 300-square-kilometer lake will be created by the 1820-meter long, 135-meter high Ilisu dam, which will flood the archeologically important city of Hasankeyf. EPA/STR
epa08077077 The 15th century Er Rizk Mosque is transported from the town of Hasankeyf, where a hydropower project is schedualed to flood the area, in Batman province, Turkey 16 December 2019 (issued 1

Europe

Mosque on the move: Historic Islamic site in Turkey wheeled away ahead of dam flooding

The 600-year-old Er Rizk Mosque is being relocated with the rest of a Turkish village

Stephen Nelmes

December 17, 2019

  • English
  • Arabic

A historical mosque in southeastern Turkey has been wheeled away in

The Er Rizk Mosque in Hasankeyf in Batman province, is one of several buildings in the village making way for the Ilisu dam project on the Tigris that will submerge the village when it opens.

The mosque was moved to a cultural park about four kilometers away from its original spot.

Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam, to the new Hasankeyf in southeastern Turkey. Reuters
A woman reacts as Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
A woman reacts as Er Rizk Mosque from the 15th century is transported from the ancient town of Hasankeyf by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam. Reuters
Ancient town of Hasankeyf is seen by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam n Hasankeyf, Turkey. Getty
Ancient town of Hasankeyf is seen by the Tigris river, which will be significantly submerged by the Ilisu dam n Hasankeyf, Turkey. Getty

"We had completed our tests on roads by yesterday, and there was no problem. Today, we will carry the monument through a 4,670-meter-long way to its new place at archeo-park," said Ali Naci Kosali, a officer for the moving project.

He said the mosque's minaret was dismantled and kept in storage. It will be restored once the mosque is in place.

Hasankeyf was declared a conservation area in 1981. There are nearly 6,000 caves around the town that contain the remnants of Christian and Muslim worship, as well as a Byzantine fortress.

Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital

Whiile you're here
Results

5.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,600m, Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)

6.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Turf) 1,400m, Winner: Mayehaab, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

6.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh85,000 (D) 1,600m, Winner: Monoski, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer

7.15pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (T) 1,800m, Winner: Eastern World, Royston Ffrench, Charlie Appleby

7.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (D) 1,200m, Winner: Madkal, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass

8.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh92,500 (T) 1,200m, Winner: Taneen, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion

The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.

Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".

The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.

He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.

"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.

As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.

TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:

- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools

- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say

- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance

- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs

- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills

- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month

- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues

England squad

Joe Root (captain), Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Gary Ballance, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Ben Stokes (vice-captain), Moeen Ali, Liam Dawson, Toby Roland-Jones, Stuart Broad, Mark Wood, James Anderson.

Europe