Kurdish Journalists Initiative, “Nazım and Cihan are martyrs of truth. They are martyrs of the free press. We will realise their goals and protect their legacy.”
The Kurdish Journalists Initiative made a written statement paying tribute to journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan who were murdered in an UCAV attack by the occupying Turkish state in northern Syria on Thursdayç
The statement by the Kurdish Journalists Initiative reads as follows:
“The occupying genocidal Turkish state is afraid of the truth. It lies and wants everyone to fall for its lies. It targets and tries to exterminate anyone who hits its lie in the face. This barbaric state massacred two of our friends in Rojava with armed drones as they travelled in the pursuit of truth. Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan were martyred on 19 December as a result of the bombing of their vehicle on the Tişrîn-Sirin road on their way back from reporting on the invasion attacks, and the driver of the vehicle, Eziz Hec Bozan, was injured.
Nazım and Cihan started their journalistic career in Northern Kurdistan. Cihan, who was a distributor of Azadiya Welat newspaper, wanted to bring the truth to all homes with this newspaper. Nazım started his journalistic adventure at the Dicle News Agency. When the Turkish state started to attack Kobanê with its gangs, both of them went to Kobanê. With their camera and pen, they stood by the people by sharing the truth with the public. Throughout Rojava, from Kobanê to Raqqa in North-East Syria, they became mirrors reflecting the truth and reality. They made great efforts.
Fearing the shadow of the truth, the occupying Turkish state tried to cover the truth with massacres. Despite the massacres from Cengiz Altun to Apê Mûsa and Gurbetelli Ersöz, from Deniz Fırat to Gülistan and Hêro, it could not cover the truth. We are angry but sad at the same time. Nazım and Cihan are martyrs of the truth. They are martyrs of the free press. We will realise their goals and protect their legacy.
Against the barbaric attacks of the Turkish state, we appeal to the press and media organisations and the international community for Nazim and Cihan. Take action against the crimes of the occupying Turkish state. The Turkish state violates the laws of war. It has attacked and murdered journalists. As friends of Nazım and Cihan, we demand that the Turkish state be tried and punished.”
