Local authorities in the Black Sea region of Amasya are annoyed after the country's security and culture establishments took seriously a complaint by a local who claimed that the tunnel project by the municipality was really a plot to steal an immense treasure buried under a mountain. The Municipality of Amasya, the scene of the tale of "Ferhat and Şirin," an Anatolian folkloric tale of love and death akin to Romeo and Juliet, is currently trying to dig a 1-kilometer tunnel under a mountain to increase access throughout the city. The tunnel is named after Ferhat, who was told to dig a tunnel under the mountain if he wanted to marry Şirin. As he was about to complete his task, the local lord, whose son had also fallen in love with Şirin, told him Şirin had died. Ferhat committed suicide and Şirin did likewise soon afterwards.
Amasya Mayor Cafer Özdemir, speaking about the complaint, said he was aware of the nature of the objection. "One of the locals filed a complaint to the police, which communicated it to the deputy governor, the Amasya Culture and Tourism Agency and the Museums Directorate. The local believes he is an expert on the province and says there is a huge treasure under the mountain and a plot to smuggle it out of the region. To tell you the truth, I am a bit annoyed that such a claim is taken so seriously."
Özdemir said unlike others, they had not taken the accusation seriously. "The tunnel is 380 meters under the castle on top of the mountain. We had to dig through solid rock. I don't for a minute believe that ancient peoples had the technology to dig so deep and place a treasure there. This is nothing new. Before every municipal project, a new wave of speculations breezes through the city. In the recent past, while we were digging for an underground car park, similar claims were made but no one took them seriously." The mayor said once the tunnel was complete, the city's traffic would ease considerably and people will see that the tunnel itself is a treasure without measure.
The complaint was filed by an individual whose identity remains anonymous.
