Employees of JINHA, DİHA, Evrensel Kültür and Tiroj, the media organizations that were closed down after the latest emergency decree, held a joint press conference and stated that they will continue to do journalism despite the increasing pressures.

In addition to media workers, HDP Provincial Co-President Aysel Güzel, HDP İstanbul Parliamentarian Garo Paylan, ETHA employees, Earth Women, MKM employees, ÖHD lawyers, Kızıl Bayrak and many other civilians and organization representatives participated in the press conference in the İHD İstanbul Branch office.

‘THE TRUTH CAN NEVER BE LEFT IN THE DARK’

JINHA reporter Rojda Oğuz read the joint statement and said that Kurdish politicians and press have been the first targets of the attacks after the coup attempt, and the recent closures aim to silence Kurdish press in the face of massacres to come. She underlined that, however, the truth can never be left in the dark.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO WRITE THE TRUTH’

Rojda Oğuz emphasized that Kurdish media organizations such as JINHA and DİHA and other organizations such as the recently targeted Cumhuriyet newspaper would not be discouraged, continue to write the truth, and expose the denialist policies of the AKP government.

‘JINHA WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE OF WOMEN’S STRUGGLE’

Rojda Oğuz recalled that JINHA was established on March 8, International Women’s Day, and has 9 of its journalists currently in prison, and emphasized that JINHA journalists would continue to defy the orders of the AKP and be the voice of women’s struggle.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO CONVEY THE TRUTH TO THE PEOPLE’

After the press statement, DİHA Istanbul Bureau Chief Zuhal Atlan recalled that 9 DİHA reporters are in prison currently, and the DİHA website has been shut down 48 times so far. Zuhal reminded the struggle of journalists in the 1990s and said that they would continue to convey the truth to the people at all costs.

‘THIS IS THE BEGINNING, NOT THE END’

JINHA Istanbul editor Mekiye Gönenç underlined that things have not changed much since the 1990s, and journalists are still being attacked today. Gönenç said that these attacks are not the end but the beginning, and thanked women for their solidarity with JINHA.

‘FIRST CULTURE AND ARTS MAGAZINE TO BE SHUT DOWN WITH AN EMERGENCY DECREE’

Evrensel Kültür Magazine editor Hakki Zariç stated that their magazine has been publishing over the past 25 years, and has been the first culture and arts magazine to be shut down with an emergency decree. Zariç emphasized that they make up a mobilized and socialist magazine, and will continue to be the proponent of labor.

HDP Istanbul Parliamentarian Garo Paylan stated that the AKP government was shutting down media organizations in order to hide its crimes, and underlined that they would continue to resist until they defeat the AKP’S wave of fascism.

‘OUR WORK WILL CONTINUE’

Bülent Uluş spoke on behalf of Tiroj magazine, which had been launched during the Newroz of 2013. Ulus said that monism was imposed upon the people through the recent illegal emergency decrees, and underlined that they would continue to do their work.

‘SUCCESS TO THE GENERATIONS THAT WILL CONTINUE THE TRADITION OF RESISTANCE’

Journalist Mukaddes Çelik Erdoğdu stated that the free press in Turkey has experienced censorship and exiles in its history, and wished success to the future generations that would inherit this tradition of free press.

‘WE WILL ALL BE JINHA REPORTERS’

Filmmor Cooperative founder Melek Özman stated that she became a volunteer JINHA reporter, and Filmmor would support JINHA and cooperative members will become JINHA reporters as part of their sisterhood and solidarity.

‘WE WILL GAIN VICTORY THROUGH RESISTANCE’

HDP Istanbul Provincial Co-President Aysel Güzel praised the solidarity with JINHA and other closed-down media organizations, and said that they would gain victory through resistance.

‘WE HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE VOLUNTEER REPORTERS’

Ayşe Berktay stated that they were resisting the pressures on the right to know the truth and emphasized the importance of women signing up as volunteer reporters.

‘WE WILL CONTINUE THE WORK OF JINHA’

Lastly, Burçak Görel spoke on behalf of the Earth's Women, recalling that women get affected the most during times of violence and war. Görel emphasized that JINHA – the first all-female news agency in the country - will not be silenced because they will continue its work.