Condemning the deadly Turkish attack against Kurdish journalists in northern Syria, Women Press Freedom stated that purposefully targeting the press in a conflict zone constitutes a war crime.
Kurdish journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were martyred in an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) attack carried out by the Turkish state on the road between the Tishreen Dam and the town of Sirin at around 15:20 on Thursday.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism's (CFWIJ) Women Press Freedom released a statement expressing outrage over the Turkish drone strike that killed journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazim Daştan near the Tishrin Dam, on the outskirts of Kobani. They were reporting on attacks on the dam when, according to local human rights groups, their vehicle was "directly" targeted. Their driver was also injured in the strike.
Remarking that this tragedy comes amid escalating Turkish attacks in northern and eastern Syria, the statement noted that Cihan Bilgin is the third woman journalist killed by a Turkish drone strike this year, following the deaths of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn in Iraq in August.
“We strongly condemn this attack and demand an immediate, independent investigation to determine if these journalists were deliberately hit. Purposefully targeting the press in a conflict zone constitutes a war crime. Turkey must be held accountable for the growing number of Kurdish journalists killed and injured by its drone strikes,” the statement said.
Women Press Freedom extended their heartfelt condolences to the families and loved ones of Cihan and Nazim.
