Paying tribute to journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu killed in a Turkish drone attack, the Democratic Press Union reiterated their pledge to continue their struggle even stronger in the footsteps of the martyrs.
The Free Press Union (YRA) made a statement paying tribute to Kurdish journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu who was killed in a Turkish drone attack in the Ranya region in the Kurdistan region of Iraq on January 27.
The press statement in front of Mihemed Şêxo Culture and Art Center in Qamishlo was read by YRA Co-Chair Dilyar Kiziri, who saluted the life and struggle of Aziz Köylüoğlu, calling him “a teacher, a comrade and a pioneer of the free press.”
Dilyar Kiziri noted that Köylüoğlu participated in the work for the free press in 2000, documented the atrocities and crimes by the occupying states in many parts of Kurdistan and conveyed them to the public. The statement continued:
"When the revolution in Rojava and North-East Syria started, Aziz went to the region without hesitation and participated in free press activities here.
He worked and pioneered in press institutions all over this country, from Dêrik to Afrin. He wrote articles and news reports to expose the reality of the Turkish occupation. He was also the editor and manager of many press organizations.
In addition to his work for media organizations, he trained hundreds of young people in North and East Syria in press work. Today, many followers of Martyr Aziz lead the work of free media organizations in North and East Syria.
Martyr Aziz became the main school of free press in this region. When he moved from Rojava to South Kurdistan, he carried out the same level of work. Therefore, we are all indebted to Martyr Aziz. We will continue our work uninterruptedly to meet his expectations.
We, the staff of the free press in North and East Syria, express our condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Martyr Aziz and to all the people of Kurdistan.
We tell the aggressive occupiers that they will never be able to stop the progress of the followers of Aziz, Seyed, Gurbetelli, Isam, Dilişan, Rizgar, Nazim and Cihan.
The enemies of the truth must know that no matter what they do, no matter what inhuman methods they use, they will never be able to achieve results.
On this occasion, we reiterate our promise that we will continue our struggle even stronger in the footsteps of the martyrs. To reveal the true face of the enemies, we will march on the path of the martyrs as we learned from Martyr Aziz.”
