The Women's Press Union (YRJ) made a press statement on the deadly Turkish attack in Sulaymaniyah city of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) yesterday (23 August) in which two journalists were martyred.

The statement was made in the Mihemed Şêxo Culture and Art Centre in Qamishlo with the participation of media workers and journalists, who displayed a banner with images of the two slain journalists, Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, and chanted the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ [Woman, Life, Freedom].

The statement in Kurdish was read by YRJ member Hebûn Omer, who strongly condemned the attack against journalists and expressed condolences to the families of martyred journalists and all free press employees.

The statement pointed out that targeting journalists is an inhuman and immoral offence against free thought and said: “The free press has bravely highlighted the awareness towards occupation and its actions, and, therefore, it has always been the target of the occupiers. The invading Turkish state is one of the most criminal states in terms of human rights violations and actions against journalists. In its history, it has always tried to hide its black face and immoral actions by murdering and arresting journalists. The Turkish state, an enemy of women and journalists, targets free press workers in order to distort and conceal the truth. The brutal attack on Gülistan Tara, a leader of the free women's press tradition, the pillar of truth, and our colleague Hêro Bahadîn was carried out for the same purpose.”

The statement said that the attack on the journalists comes at a time when a dangerous and corrupt alliance between Iraq and Turkey, mainly based on the cooperation and espionage of the ruling KDP party in the Kurdistan Region, has been established against the Kurdish people and the freedom movement.

Pointing out that the attack was a result of this corrupt alliance, the statement said, “We see these forces as directly responsible for this brutal attack. The occupying Turkish state must be prosecuted for these crimes against journalists. For this, we call on Kurdistan and world public opinion not to remain silent.”

The statement pointed out that journalist Gülistan Tara, who was a student of Mazlum Doğan and Gurbeteli Ersöz, became a great follower of the truth with her pen and camera for 24 years, and said: ‘Martyr Gülistan Tara has done many works to enlarge the legacy of the free women's press and displayed a pioneering position.”

The statement said that Hero Bahadîn is a female journalist from Southern Kurdistan and has become a torch of truth with her brave stance against the occupation of the occupying Turkish state and the line of betrayal.

The statement commemorated all martyrs of the free press in the person of journalists Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn and said, “We bow in front of their sacred memory. We will fight with great determination to protect and grow the legacy of the martyrs, and we will follow in the footsteps of our fallen comrades.”

Pointing to the occupying Turkish state and its spy KDP as the perpetrators of deadly attacks against journalists and women, the statement emphasised that the will of the free women's press will never be defeated by these brutal attacks.

The statement concluded: “There is a breath of captivity and freedom in Kurdistan. As long as there is a free women's press, the flag of the freedom struggle in Kurdistan will remain high. As the free women's press, we will follow Gurbeteli Ersöz, Gülistan Tara, Hêro Bahadîn, Rosida Mêrdin and all the martyrs of the free press with great determination and courage under all kinds of attacks. We will fight with greater determination with our pen and camera for the protection and dissemination of this legacy throughout Kurdistan.”