Journalists demand action to end attacks on the free press

Yesterday (23 August), a Turkish UCAV attacked a vehicle traveling in the city of Sulaymaniyah in Southern Kurdistan (Norikan), killing journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn.

Media workers and journalists who attended the Women's Press Union (YRJ) press conference in Qamishlo spoke to ANF about the attack and called on relevant institutions and organizations defending the right to journalism to take action.

“They are targeting those women who have tasted freedom”

Lîlav Hesen said: “Women who unite under the motto ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî'” [Woman, Life, Freedom] are the direct target of hegemonic states. They see women's calls for freedom as a threat to their own interests and therefore target women in social, economic, health, cultural and media organizations that have cost them freedom. The targeting of female journalists is nothing new. A year before the day on which Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered, a JIN TV vehicle was attacked, killing JIN TV employee Necmeddîn Sînan and seriously injuring Delîla Egîd. It is no coincidence that the attack in Southern Kurdistan took place on the same day.”

“A dirty war policy is being pursued against the employees of the Free Press”

Lîlav Hesen stressed that while the Turkish state can carry out journalistic activities in Southern Kurdistan without any problems, the free press is exposed to dangers. She drew attention to the betrayal of the KDP, the ruling party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and stated: “A dirty war policy is being carried out against the employees of the free press. Sometimes they are murdered, sometimes kidnapped, sometimes imprisoned. These practices mean the end of the Turkish state and the KDP. They are directed against the employees of the free press who expose their extermination and genocide policies and bring the truth to light.”

“We will follow in their footsteps”

Lîlav Hesen noted that Gulistan Tara was a pioneer in press organizations and especially in the women's press, adding: “The loss of Gulistan Tara was difficult for all press workers. We will follow in the footsteps of the martyr Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahaddîn until there is only one woman journalist left. Their pens and cameras will not remain untouched.”

“Journalists proclaim to the world the color, the voice, the resistance and the struggle of women”

Cûdî Elî said: “The Turkish state is particularly targeting women journalists. Women journalists lead the 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' revolution. They announce the color, voice, resistance and struggle of women to the world. We have always taken a women-oriented press in line with the paradigm of women's freedom and the paths that women have taken in social, political, economic and cultural development as a basis. Therefore, Gulistan Tara, our pioneer, had an important place in the wind of the women's freedom revolution.”

“You will not be able to silence female journalists”

Cûdî Elî stated that the attack on the territory of Southern Kurdistan was shameful and concluded: “The partnership of the KDP with the Turkish state and the silence of the Iraqi government are causing the attacks to increase. Female journalists, politicians and activists have been attacked many times in the territory of Southern Kurdistan. In addition, the existing rights of female journalists are being obstructed. Despite these attacks, they will not be able to silence female journalists. As YRJ members, we will lead the legacy of our martyred journalist friends to victory.”

“The responsibility lies with the KDP and the Iraqi government”

Evîn Îbrahîm pointed out that this is not the first time that the Turkish state has targeted female journalists. She said: “The KDP and the Iraqi government are responsible and to blame for the deadly attack on Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahaddîn because the Turkish state cannot carry out such attacks without their consent. Without their consent, Turkey would not have been able to carry out attacks on civilians in Southern Kurdistan in a convenient manner.”

“We will intensify our fight to free the truth from the darkness”

Emphasizing that they will move forward as journalists by giving strength to the pen and camera of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, Evîn Îbrahim concluded her speech as follows: “The slogan 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' initiated by Kurdish women is being shouted all over the world today. Everyone is demanding their freedom under this slogan. It was women journalists who announced the uprising 'Jin, Jiyan, Azadî' to the world and the peoples, and they sacrificed their lives for this slogan. As journalists, we will intensify our struggle to free the truth from the darkness. We also call on the relevant institutions and organizations to take measures to stop the attacks on journalists.”

Journalists demand action to end attacks on the free press

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