Mustafa Karasu: Isolation of Abdullah Öcalan is unlawful and arbitrary

New long and in-depth interview with Mustafa Karasu, member of the KCK Executive Council.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Thursday, 22 August 2024

In this interview, Mustafa Karasu, member of the KCK Executive Council, spoke about the isolation of the Kurdish people’s leader, Abdullah Öcalan, and the importance of the 15 August 1984 breakthrough, when the PKK fired its first bullet.

The total isolation of Kurdish people’s leader Abdullah Öcalan continues, while at the same time, protests against it are also growing. How do you assess this current situation and the latest developments?

Before evaluating the isolation of Rêber Apo, I congratulate Rêber Apo on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of 15 August, the national Resurrection Day. Likewise, I congratulate all our freedom fighters and our people.

An intense isolation is being imposed on Rêber Apo. Just last week, comrade Besê evaluated it in more detail. So I just wanted to point out some specific points. In order to justify the continuation of the isolation, special war propaganda is being conducted. So they keep making up lies to fool people and change the agenda. Just the other day, they said that they would like to give Rêber Apo his right to hold meetings, but that it is our movement that would prevent this. This situation has not been going on for a day, a week, or a month; it has been going on for years.

Why don’t they let him meet with his family or lawyers for years? They are making baseless propaganda, creating lies and deception, but of course no one will believe this. The whole world knows how sensitive we are about Rêber Apo. In fact, there is no other movement in the world that is so protective of its leader. Even though Rêber Apo has been in captivity for 26 years and, since then, has been isolated, our movement, our leadership, and our people are protecting Rêber Apo with all our means. We are waging a struggle in line with Rêber Apo’s ideology and policy. The rumors that there are problems between him, our movement, and our people or that our movement does not want to meet with Rêber Apo are completely false and black propaganda.

Rêber Apo is in total isolation, and an intense struggle against this is taking place. In fact, the responsibility of the struggle for his physical freedom now goes far beyond the movement and the Kurdish people. It has become a responsibility that people around the world are taking on. The fact that 69 Nobel Prize-winning intellectuals have signed a petition for the freedom of Rêber Apo and sent letters to international organizations and the Turkish government has clearly demonstrated that the physical freedom of Rêber Apo has become the demand of all humanity. This isolation is unlawful and arbitrary; it has no legal basis.

They openly admit that they are afraid that if they were to allow his meetings, Rêber Apo would start talking, which would have a great impact on society and politics. The genocidal policies of the Turkish state would be exposed and harmed. This is the essential reason why they prevent any meetings. They express this themselves in different ways. According to what we have recently learned, a delegation of the Turkish state openly confessed during their meetings in Europe that Rêber Apo was expressing his thoughts and giving a message to the people, and that is why they are not letting him meet with the outside world. To deny a prisoner, a political prisoner, or rather a hostage, any contact is completely arbitrary and has no justification. Everything they cite as alleged justifications is lies and false constructs. The struggle against this situation continues and will continue. Certainly, we, our people, and humanity will not give up the struggle for the physical freedom of Rêber Apo and will develop it.

The Turkish state and its policies have been exposed, and because they have been exposed, they are resorting to all methods of special warfare. The fact that the Turkish state is resorting to special warfare propaganda and making black propaganda, claiming, for example, that our movement does not want to meet with Rêber Apo, shows how stuck it is. It cannot give a reasonable justification for why it has not allowed the lawyers or the family to come to Imrali for years. This reflects the reality of the Turkish state. It is a state that is based on special warfare. Its policy against the Kurds does not conform to any law, politics, or morality.

The essence of its fight against the Kurds is a war of perception and lies, a war to deceive and distort societies. Nothing the Turkish state says regarding the Kurdish question should be believed. Society, politicians, and the world should not fall for their lies. Lying, distortion, not showing the truth, and deceiving the world and society are the basic characteristics of this state. What kind of fascist power the Turkish state is is clearly understood from the isolation and psychological warfare against Rêber Apo. Many intellectuals and writers around the world are demanding his release. Their embrace and solidarity need to be seen as part of the global struggle for freedom and democracy.

Rêber Apo’s thoughts and paradigm are of high significance not only for the Kurdish people, the peoples of the Middle East, or Turkey, but for all of humanity. At a time when capitalist modernity is corrupting society and the world, Rêber Apo’s paradigm is a prescription for the salvation of humanity. In this respect, the people see his struggle for freedom as their own struggle for freedom. That is also the reason why solidarity with him is growing exponentially.

15 August 1984, marks the 40th anniversary of an essential breakthrough in your movement. It was a day of resurrection that is being celebrated today in Kurdistan and in many parts of the world. The significance of the day is often assessed, and attempts are made to classify it correctly, but what I would like to ask specifically is what particular consequence 15 August had on the prisons. You were in the infamous prison of Amed (Diyarbakir) during that period. How was the 15 August breakthrough reflected in prison?

Before coming to my answer to your question, I would like to commemorate comrade Agit, the commander of the 15 August breakthrough, with gratitude and respect. Comrade Agit was the commander who initiated and gave the spirit of this struggle. I also commemorate with gratitude and respect comrade Erdal, comrade Huseyin Mahir, comrade Zeki Shengali and comrade Atakan Mahir, who were also martyred in the month of August. Also, I want to commemorate with gratitude and respect comrade Alan Malazgirt and comrade Berwar Dersim, whose martyrdom was recently announced by the People’s Defense Center (HPG). Hundreds and thousands of our friends were martyred in the month of August; I commemorate them all with respect. All of them were following in the footsteps of comrade Agit. They fought in the most difficult conditions and overcame the greatest difficulties in order to make the breakthrough of August 15 a success.

When the breakthrough of 15 August took place, we were in prison. At that time, the pressure in prison had eased thanks to the January 1984 resistance within the prison. During that time, a family came to visit us. They told us that the friends had come to the Botan region and that they were making preparations in order to start guerrilla warfare. This news was sent to boost our morale. At first, I didn’t tell anyone this information, since I could not confirm whether it was just a rumor or already a fact. I didn’t tell anyone for a few months. Then I only told one friend about it. When the breakthrough finally took place on 15 August 1984, the friends around me immediately became curious; there were discussions about who had made this move and who knew about it.

Previously, during the death fast in 1982, we knew that our friends were making preparations and planning armed action because of information brought through the families. We heard that our movement was making preparations and wanted to regroup and fight. Our contact with the outside was very limited, and we received partial information about forming a guerrilla towards the end of 1983. We also received a part of a book called “The Kurdistan Problem and the Way of Solution.” This book was brought by a friend who was exiled from Xarpet (tr. Elazig) to Amed. We tried to evaluate this information and these books, but we just reached limited results. The impact was all the greater when we heard of the 15 August breakthrough. This move relieved a great burden on the friends. They realized that the tortures were not in vain and that the suffering they had endured for standing up for this cause became meaningful on 15 August.

The enormous impact of 15 August on the prisons eliminated the corrosive effects of the previous pressures. Until then, there had been resistance, but it had worn out because of the great pressure. On 15 August, everything changed. Already after 14 July, there was a significant change, and the struggle and belief were reinforced. A new period had begun in the prisons, both in terms of organization and resistance, but 15 August took this to a whole new level, and everyone gained new morale. It made the friends realize the importance and value of their resistance and suffering. This was a very crucial development.

On 15 August, the role of the prisons changed. The prison resistance served as a bridge in the period between 1980 and 1984, when there was just very limited struggle on the outside. After the military coup in 1980, our party retreated. In this process, the prison resistance filled this gap and formed a bridge of resistance through 14 July and the death fast. 15 August had an important impact on the formation of this resistance. In addition, one of the most important effects of August 15th in prison was the failure of the state’s prison policies.

The Turkish State aimed to intimidate and surrender those imprisoned, and then execute the leaders of this resistance. But when 15 August took place, even before, when they could not liquidate the movement, but instead it became a peoples struggle, the situation radically changed. The guerrillas entered the country in 1983, and the Turkish state launched operations against the Medya Defense Areas, such as Operation Sun and the operations in the Behdinan region. Because they could not crush the movement, and essentially because Rêber Apo made a great effort to recover the movement, the Turkish state started to carry out executions everywhere. They executed civilian and judicial prisoners. At this time, it was our movement that carried out the most armed actions against fascists, gangs, spies, and those who oppressed the people in Turkey.

Before the military coup of 12 September 1980, for the first time in the mountains of Kurdistan after 1938, bigger weapons were used. At that time, in groups of ten, big weapons were used, not just pistols. These weapons were used for self-defense while they moved in the mountains. There were some clashes; gendarmes and soldiers were killed, and our movement carried out many actions against the torturing police officers. Before 12 September, we were the movement that fought the most against the fascist groups, torturing policemen and colonialist Turkish soldiers. But while other organizations were executed, they could not execute us.

The reason for this is that our organization backfired. If executions had been carried out after the 15 August breakthrough, we would have answered them. Instead of weakening the struggle, executions would have angered the people and strengthened the struggle. For this reason, although executions were carried out in all organizations, they did not execute us. We were struggling, and the 15 August breakthrough was realized. It prevented executions and reduced the pressure in prison. Generally speaking, it prevented the neutralization of our movement. Therefore, the effects of 15 August in the prison provided great morale, and the old repression did not return. The mood of the friends who had been repressed and tortured really changed; even our gait changed.

‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign explains content of Family Law in Northern and Eastern Syria

The ‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign carried out in Northern and Eastern Syria aims to explain the content of the Family Law as well as end violence against women and raise awareness among men.


NÛJIYAN ADAR
QAMISHLO
Monday, 26 August 2024

The ‘We Are Hope, We Are Peace’ campaign launched on 1 July by the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, which operates in Northern and Eastern Syria, continues at full speed. This campaign, which will be completed by the end of August, aims to introduce the Family Law.

The Family Law, by securing civil rights and banning polygamy and child marriages, introduces strict sanctions regarding domestic violence and takes measures to protect women and children. It also aims to ensure that family relations are conducted fairly by making regulations on issues such as divorce and marriage.

The Family Law consists of a total of 41 articles under 6 headings: marriage, divorce, the effects of divorce, the livelihood of relatives, crimes related to kinship and families.

Delal Osman, a member of the Sara Organization for the Fight Against Violence against Women, spoke to ANF about the aim and progress of the campaign.

Focusing on raising awareness of men

Delal Osman said: "We started such a campaign to respond to the increase in violence against women. We realized that the campaign would be important because the male-dominated mentality deals with women in line with reactionary traditions and customs, oppresses women and takes away their rights. In line with this initiative, we are focusing on raising the awareness of men rather than women. We are holding discussions with men and deeply addressing the foundation of a democratic family."

Osman added: "Violence against women has not ended. We are aware of the intense tendencies towards women, and in line with the weight of this, we want to prevent the killings and violence against women that take place under the name of ‘honor’. In fact, women also needed to be made aware of the legal dimension. They needed to know that there were laws that defended women’s rights and that it was time to express the reflections of violence against their bodies and minds."

Encouraging a democratic family model

Delal Osman said that the campaign was carried out in line with the introduction of the Family Law and that visits were made to villages, towns and districts in the region. "These visits take place in the form of home visits, meetings, seminars and panels. We also distribute brochures and provide information about every article of the Family Law. The aim of the initiative is to explain the rights provided by the law to women who are not aware of the Family Law and to encourage a democratic family model. The interest of society in the initiative is positive, and the discussions are intense. Many people have heard of the Family Law but were not familiar with its content. We also observed problems related to traditional family structures and violence."

Women's organizations in Turkey fear increase in femicides if the government's new plans approved

Women's organizations in Turkey fear an increase in femicides in light of the plans of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 25 August 2024

The Turkish state has long been based on a synthesis of Islamism and fascism. Part of this policy is to allow the authorities and religious institutions access to the family sphere. Now the Ministry of Family and Social Services, controlled by the Islamist ruling party AKP, has published a perspective paper and an action plan "to protect and strengthen the family." The action plan announced by Family Minister Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş includes a block warden system. Each building is to have a "family advisor for religious guidance and spiritual information."

The work of the advisors is to be focused on the basis of an assessment of "social risks." These "advisors" come from so-called civil society organizations. In the past, similar tasks were carried out by Islamist sects or right-wing extremist associations. Women's organizations and civil society warn that this project violates secularism and individual freedom and promotes social discrimination and violence against women.

Tülin Osmanoğulları, representative of the "Stop Femicides" platform in Izmir, told Yeni Özgur Politika newspaper that the regime had built misogynistic alliances with the 2023 elections and has since then attacked women's rights even more strongly at all levels. For example, members of the Islamist Hüda Par entered parliament on the AKP ticket. A party that, with its predecessor organization Hezbollah, is involved in countless murders and torture in the style of ISIS.

Tülin Osmanoğulları said: "The government is trying to blame its own defeat on society. It appointed a trustee for Hakkari (Colemêrg) and passed a law on the killing of stray animals. Now, in a country where violence against women and sexual violence against children have increased significantly, it has published a perspective paper and an 'action plan for protecting and strengthening the family'. It wants to open religious counseling centers and offer religious and spiritual counseling to families. In this way, the absolute power of men in the family is to be emphasized with reference to religious sources. The idea is to convey that it is wrong to defend yourself against men and their violence."

"There is no longer a family to strengthen"

Osmanoğulları continued: "Women are mostly killed as a result of the government's family policy by men from whom they want to divorce or separate. The men who have been given uncontrolled power are now not only killing women, but even their own children. In other words, there is no longer a family to strengthen. Family-oriented policies or religiously oriented counseling centers do not solve the problem, but only lead to an increase in murders, violence against women and sexualized violence against children. We can see this very clearly in the results of our monthly surveys. The government's policy has become a very serious social problem. We do not accept this policy. We do not give up our rights, freedom and equality. We will continue our fight until Law No. 6284, which is intended to protect women, is effectively implemented."

Law No. 6284 regulates the protection of women and the punishment of perpetrators, including a restraining order for perpetrators of violence and protective measures for victims. It defines measures ranging from material support to a new identity for women. The AKP and its coalition partners have repeatedly brought up the abolition of this law.

"It's about messing up society"

Rojbin Bor, an activist with the women's movement TJA, pointed out that the expansion of "religious and spiritual counseling services" for families aims to shape society on the basis of certain religious and cultural values ​​and to increasingly weaken its pluralistic structure.

Bor said: "This practice will lead to a Sharia mentality like in Iran, where the murder of women is justified just because a strand of hair is visible. We are aware that such action plans are nothing more than the preparation of a Sharia regime. An attempt is being made to prepare women for a new Sharia system and to convince them of it. By instrumentalizing religion, society has already been convinced of hunger, poverty, deprivation, misery and even death. Not only that, Turkey, which ranks last in the world in terms of women's rights, has, instead of protecting women's right to life, focused over the last ten years on creating a submissive, accepting woman who obeys men and destroying those who do not fit this definition as witches."

"Hate crimes and pogroms are being fomented"

Bor continued: "There are millions of people of other religions and denominations in this country. This situation will lead to inequality and discrimination against people of different faiths and cause social unrest. This in turn will lead to hate crimes and pogroms, of which there have already been examples in the past, being fomented again by the government. Social peace will continue to deteriorate as the conflict between secular and religious values ​​intensifies. In order to preserve a secular and pluralistic social structure, one must therefore be vigilant and oppose such policies. It is important that women's rights activists, civil society organizations and all relevant groups take an active role in promoting gender equality and human rights. If such policies are implemented, measures must be taken to protect gender equality and women's rights. Such policies must be carefully evaluated to ensure that they do not harm social peace."

Source: Yeni Özgur Politika

UK

The Peace in Kurdistan Campaign issued a statement analyzing the violent riots that broke out following the shocking fatal stabbing of three young girls in the seaside town of Southport, in the United Kingdom.


ANF
LONDON
Friday, 23 August 2024,

Estella Schmid and David Morgan issued a statement on behalf of the patrons of the Peace in Kurdistan Campaign analyzing the violent riots that broke out following the shocking fatal stabbing of three young girls in the seaside town of Southport, in the United Kingdom early this month.

The statement reads as follows:

"The mass disorder rapidly spread across the country with incidents taking place in Southport itself and in cities as far afield as Plymouth, Sunderland and Belfast. They were confined to England and Northern Ireland, with no outbreaks recorded in Wales or Scotland. What became clear from the outset was that the incidents took place in areas of extreme social deprivation, where communities have the feeling of being left behind and not sharing in the prosperity enjoyed elsewhere in the country; long-term unemployment, deindustrialisation, urban decay and long-term neglect of local infrastructure are characteristics of these areas. Indeed, during radio phone-in discussions about the causes of the riots, several contributors cited the government’s removal of the winter fuel payment for pensioners and the retention of the cruel two child benefit cap as factors that added to existing discontent.

Many myths quickly circulated about the terrible incident in Southport and the erroneous claims that the assailant was a recent asylum seeker who had been trafficked across the Channel on one of the many boats that take the perilous journey from France on a near daily basis, an issue which has become such a contentious one in political debates over recent years. When the culprit of the stabbings was eventually unmasked after some days delay he turned out to be a British born youth with parents from Rwanda, a country where most of the population are Christian, so this would make it highly unlikely that he would be an Islamist, as was claimed, though his motives have yet to be revealed to the public.

This deliberate misinformation thrived and helped fuel rumours that provoked the riots. The mood of anger and seething hatred vented on asylum seekers and minority communities had been festering for years created by the opportunistic rhetoric of newspapers and politicians from all major parties. Acute social tensions and political conflicts cannot be ignored or downplayed if we want to genuinely understand the root causes of the rioting because they did not simply emerge from out of nowhere.

The far right inevitably sought to capitalise on the discontent and actively spread the misinformation through social media, which facilitates the spread of unpleasant ideas. Nevertheless, the belief that the far right is “on the march” should not be exaggerated too much as that could simply add to the feelings of fear and helplessness of those who are the victims of racist abuse. The English Defence League (EDL) was one of the groups repeatedly blamed for stirring up the riots, even though it no longer formally exists as an active organisation.

Admittedly, the involvement of far right individuals and shadowy informal groups in stoking the flames of discontent seems to be undeniable, at least judging by all the evidence of the slogans used on the protests and the symbolism of those participating in the incidents who were regularly seen brandishing banners with intimidating messages like “Britain First”, “England for the English”, and “Stop the Boats”, the latter one being a campaign slogan adopted by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

The targets for the rioters’ wrath were hotels used to provide temporary housing for asylum seekers and local mosques, indicating the racist nature of the riots but suggesting more vague political motives. Police officers clashed with rioters in ugly incidents and even paramedics tending to the injured were assaulted. Random violence and looting suggest there was no clear common political intentions among the rioters.

Government policy that has dispersed asylum seekers to the most deprived communities in the country must bear some blame as it surely contributed towards the social tensions prevalent in those areas. The policy has created a tinderbox ready to be ignited by malignant forces. So successive governments need to admit their responsibilities if we are ever to resolve the underlying causes of such unrest as riots are likely to break out again at some point in the near future.

The latest series of riots, violent protests and disorder put members of minority communities in dread of even venturing outside their own homes. The fear of random attack in the street has sadly long been a living daily reality for these communities and the legacy of the riots will linger on for an exceedingly long time to come. Unless the underlying issues are properly and urgently addressed the animosities will fester.

The immediate response of the government was to reach for the law and order playbook. The state insists on its monopoly of the use of force and is determined irrespective of the party in power to punish severely all who challenge this monopoly, whether they are from right or left. The Prime Minister and his Home Secretary, recently installed in office, wanted to be seen to be up to the job. They encouraged the police and the courts to take swift action to arrest, sentence and imprison as many offenders as possible. Summary justice has become the norm, with harsh sentences read out on live television which turned the legal process into a form of entertainment.

In the aftermath of the riots, politicians are seeking to introduce stricter curbs on civil rights, with online social media posts treated the same as criminal offences committed on the streets and they may even be interpreted as acts of terrorism.

Even satire is being defined as a criminal offence, with one recent political poster branded as “extremist abuse”, in a new government report. The offending poster was critical of Labour’s policy on Gaza and Israel, and bore the words, “Vote for Labour, vote for genocide”, which some would see as fair comment, reflecting widespread public disquiet at the continued arms sales to Israel in the light of allegations of war crimes amidst the mounting deaths of unarmed civilians in Gaza, including thousands of children. The mounting atrocities in the Middle East have been unfolding for months with hardly a comment coming from the mouths of Labour party leaders. Their position has hardly altered now that they are in government and arms sales to Israel are continuing uninterrupted.

Robust satire and sharp political comment have always been features of a healthy liberal democracy. The attempt to silence critics by government fiat is a dangerous trend. The UK already has repressive anti-terrorism legislation on its statute books, so the readiness to toughen these up can only pose a renewed threat to all our rights and liberties. The shortsighted moves of politicians, who are out of touch and disconnected with the public, also puts in jeopardy the great traditions of dissent that have long been a hallmark of the country, and which has justly been celebrated for centuries as a haven for political refugees escaping from repressive regimes abroad.

It is deeply ironic that a Prime Minister, with a career as a human rights lawyer, should be the political leader to embark on introducing more state powers that curtail civil liberties. It is worrying that so few voices seem prepared to speak out and stand up for our cherished liberties, now under threat from our own government. Those who remain silent will, it seems certain, live to regret it. Equally it seems certain that state repression will not resolve any of the underlying tensions that created the conditions for the riots and disorder in the first place. We appear to have embarked on an extremely dangerous period in our history.

The UK remains one of the richest countries in the world, but it is also one of the most socially divided. These divisions are growing, especially between the super wealthy and many who are barely surviving while in-work poverty, debt, homelessness and reliance on food banks are all increasing. People need job security, access to affordable housing, good public services and opportunities for their children to thrive. The fact that so many lack all hope that their elected politicians will ever satisfy the basic human needs of the people indicates that the scale of the problems we face are not sufficiently understood. The riots were a symptom of these deeper social ills and were not simply caused by mindless “far right thugs” intent on stirring up trouble. The roots clearly go far deeper, and these must be addressed if we are ever to avert social decline and disintegration."

Fires erupt in five villages in Barwarî Bala as a result of Turkish bombardments

Bushfires were raging in five villages in Barwarî Bala as a result of Turkish bombardments.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Monday, 26 August 2024, 08:33

Bushfires, some of them severe, were raging in five villages in Barwarî Bala as a result of Turkish bombardments on Sunday. According to the NGO Community Peacemaker Teams (CPT) based in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, the villages affected by the fires were Mêrga Qesrê, Girê Sor, Elkîşkê, Cembelkê and Bêlîzanê.

CPT spokesman Kamaran Osman told RojNews news agency that Elkîşkê is particularly at risk. From Sunday morning, the flames surrounded not only several houses, cultivated areas and a cemetery, but also the access road to the village.

At least nineteen families in the village were trapped and had to wait for hours to be evacuated despite requests for help. Osman had no information on injuries or deaths. Regarding the extent of the destruction caused by the flames, he said: "We estimate that around 240 hectares of cultivated and farmland have burned so far."

The bush fires were ignited by heavy shelling by unmanned drones of the Turkish army.

Barwarî Bala - or Berwarî Bala depending on the dialect - which belongs to the Duhok governorate and borders Amêdî, is located with its garden-rich valleys in the southern Kurdish part of the Hekarî Mountains, which are considered a historical Assyrian settlement area. Very close by is the densely populated district of Kanî Masî, in the surrounding area of ​​which the Turkish army already operates several military bases and which serves as a kind of base for Turkey's ongoing occupation offensive in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The KDP, which dominates the government in Hewlêr (Erbil), supports Ankara's occupation campaign.

Turkish war policy in South Kurdistan

Since the Turkish invasion was expanded in June, the military has regularly set fire to civilian settlements in South Kurdistan - in addition to heavy daily bombings from the ground and air. The aim is to force the population to move. According to the Community Peacemaker Teams, numerous villages in the area around Kanî Masî have already been depopulated as a result of Turkish military violence, and other villages are threatened with the same fate. The international community is ignoring Turkey's crimes in its neighboring country.

 TURKIYE'S WAR ON KURDISTAN

Türkiye airstrikes claim lives of two female journalists in Northern Iraq

Ojjaswini Gupta | National Law U. Sonipat, IN

AUGUST 25, 2024 

A Turkish airstrike in northern Iraq’s Kurdish region killed two female journalists, Hero Baha’uddin and Golestan Tara, on Friday. Both journalists worked for a local Kurdish media company and were traveling near the village of Teperash in Sulaimaniyah province when the strike hit, according to reports from local media.

The Kurdish Regional Government’s (KRG) counter-terrorism service, headquartered in Irbil, reported that they targeted a vehicle believed to be carrying members of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). The PKK, a Kurdish separatist organization, has engaged in an armed conflict with Türkiye since the 1980s. The service confirmed that the strike killed a PKK official, along with his guard and their driver.

However, the situation remains unclear regarding whether the journalists were in the same vehicle as the PKK members or if multiple vehicles were involved. In addition to the fatalities, the attack also injured six other journalists to varying degrees.

Qubad Talabani, the Deputy Prime Minister of the KRG, condemned the airstrike and stressed that the journalists were civilians who should not have been targeted. His statement highlighted the severe risks that media professionals face in conflict zones.

This incident underscores the broader context of Türkiye’s intensified military operations against PKK bases in northern Iraq. As a result, tensions have risen between Türkiye and Iraq, with concerns about violations of its sovereignty while also adopting a stricter stance toward the PKK.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the killings of the journalists, with its interim MENA program coordinator, in Washington, D.C., Yeganeh Rezaian, urging Turkish authorities to investigate if the journalists were targeted for their work.    

The Turkish government has not commented on the attack.

TJK-E: Attacks will neither silence the free press nor stop the Kurdish freedom struggle

TJK-E commemorated with love and respect the two journalists murdered by the Turkish state in Sulaymaniyah yesterday and said: “These attacks will neither silence the free press nor stop the Kurdish freedom struggle.”


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 24 August 2024

The Kurdish Women's Movement in Europe (TJK-E) released a statement calling for protests following the deadly Turkish drone attack on female journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

The statement released by TJK-E on Saturday includes the following:

“Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, two Kurdish Free Press workers, were killed in a Turkish drone attack. We condemn with hatred this despicable attack carried out by the AKP-MHP fascist regime, which makes politics over the genocide of Kurdish women and people, and we express our condolences to the free press workers, their families and our people. We promise to keep Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn's dreams of a free life alive.

The AKP-MHP fascist regime wants to realise its Neo-Ottomanism dreams through genocide and occupation policies. The collaborator and treasonous KDP administration, which is a partner of these genocide and occupation policies, is an accomplice in this crime against humanity. It is responsible for the massacres. Attacks by the Turkish state are not limited to Southern Kurdistan. The Autonomous Administration forces and civilians are also massacred in Rojava and Shengal, and a war is being waged against the Kurdish language in Northern Kurdistan. The concept of the fascist AKP-MHP regime is being implemented. But these attacks will neither silence the free press nor stop the Kurdish freedom struggle.

On this basis, we once again commemorate the Kurdish Free Press workers Gülistan and Hêro with love and respect. We call on all women, our people and democratic public opinion to take a stance against betrayal and genocide and to participate in the actions to be organised under the leadership of TJK-E.”

TEV-ÇAND: The Turkish state is killing Kurds with the help of the Barzani family

TEV-ÇAND Europe said in a statement that "free media workers Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered in a vile attack by the collaborationist and traitorous Barzani family. We will not hesitate to make any sacrifice to achieve their goals."


ANF
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 25 August 2024

In a written statement, TEV-ÇAND Europe said that "the misogynist genocidal fascist Turkish state has been continuing its physical and cultural genocidal attacks on Kurds for 100 years together with the Barzani family, who insist on the treasonous line. When it could not achieve results with the attacks it developed against the freedom guerrillas, it has also constantly targeted the press and culture, which are the free voice of the Kurdish people."

The statement added: "Most recently, on 23 August, free media workers Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered in a despicable attack by the collaborator and treasonous Barzani family."

'Let's expand the struggle, let's unite'

The statement added: "As culture and art workers, we condemn these attacks carried out with dirty alliances against the Kurdish people and its free voice, the free press and culture workers. We remember with great respect and gratitude the free media and culture workers who were killed, and we offer our condolences to their patriotic families. We also wish a speedy recovery to the wounded."

The statement continued: "The longing for freedom will be a hope for all women and peoples of the world with the philosophy of Jin, Jiyan, Azadi.

We will continue to be the voice of freedom, and to expose the dirty faces of these genocidal and treasonous groups with our art. Let us stand together and be united against the misogynist, anti-society genocidal systems and policies by standing in the path of truth. Let us grow the struggle."

Communist Party of Kurdistan: Turkish state attacks with hostility

The Communist Party of Kurdistan condemned the massacre of free press workers by the occupying Turkish state and said, “The Turkish state does not distinguish civilians and attacks with hostility.”


ANF
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 25 August 2024, 13:59

On 23 August, the occupying Turkish state carried out an airstrike in Seyîdsadiq district of Sulaymaniyah, targeting the vehicle of free press workers. As a result of the attack, 2 Kurdish women journalists, Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, were martyred, while 6 journalists were wounded.

As reactions against the deadly attack continue, the Communist Party of Kurdistan issued the following statement: ‘The Turkish state does not distinguish civilians and targets everyone, whether guerrilla, Peshmerga, worker, farmer, journalist or peasant. This is a hostile policy against our people. We express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wish a speedy recovery to the wounded. This is a violation of the sovereignty of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq. For this reason, the attacks must not be met with silence and all means must be used to stop the attacks.”

YPJ: Killing journalists means silencing the voice of truth

“The history of Kurdish journalism is intertwined with the history of the Kurdish people’s struggle. The free women’s media will never surrender,” said the YPJ after the deadly Turkish attack against female journalists in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Sunday, 25 August 2024

The Media Center of the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ) released a statement paying tribute to Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn who lost their lives in a Turkish UCAV attack in Sulaymaniyah city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq on 23 August.

“The fascist Turkish state’s attack on journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn was aimed at hiding the Turkish state’s plans to occupy and seize South Kurdistan,” said the YPJ statement on Sunday, which includes the following:

“The forces of the Kurdistan Region and Iraq in South Kurdistan are destroying the gains of the Kurdistan Freedom Movement in cooperation with the Turkish state, which sees its salvation in the genocide of the Kurdish people and the region. The Turkish state continues to carry out such terrorist and inhumane attacks in the region. Gulistan and Hêro followed the truth about the Turkish state’s attack and invasion of South Kurdistan, which it carries out alongside those who practice slavery and treacherous forces in the country.

Gulistan and Hêro, through their struggle with the camera, pen, and media, insisted on conveying these truths to the world. Therefore, on August 23, Gulistan and Hêro were attacked by the Turkish state in Sulaymaniyah. Gulistan and Hêro never stopped their struggle and sacrificed their lives to reveal the existing truths. The history of Kurdish journalism is intertwined with the history of the Kurdish people’s struggle. Today, the Kurdish people’s resistance, thanks to the work of journalists fighting for the truth, is clear, and history cannot deny this spirit and courage that insist on independence and freedom. In front of the entire world, the Turkish state carries out its brutal attacks with armed aircraft. The Turkish state attacks politicians, academics, fighters, and journalists in front of the entire world in a manner that defies the laws of war. The fascist state killed the fighter and journalist Dilovan Gever in West Kurdistan in a brutal way in 2019 while she was covering the Turkish state’s invasion of the city of Gri Spi.

As always, human rights organizations and agencies remain silent about the attacks carried out by the Turkish state. All authorities and officials in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq must be fully aware that they are openly cooperating with the genocide against the Kurdish people in South Kurdistan. Targeting and killing journalists means silencing the voice of truth. The forces of South Kurdistan and Iraq must not allow the Turkish state to launch such inhumane attacks on their land.

We express our condolences to the dear families of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn. The struggle for free women’s media to expose the truths about the fascist Turkish state, from Gurbetelli Ersöz to Agirî Yılmaz, Dilovan Gever, Gulistan and Hêro, is a history filled with resistance, and for this reason, they will never surrender.

We, as fighters and journalists fighting for the freedom of our people and our land, fight to demonstrate resistance, and we promise to continue and enhance the struggle of Kolestan and Hero.”

"Bring the killers of journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn to justice"

The DEM Party Women's Assembly, the Human Rights Association and the trade union DISK Basın-Iş called on the authorities of South Kurdistan to bring the killers of two journalists to justice.


ANF
NEWS DESK
Saturday, 24 August 2024

Kurdish journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were killed in the bomb attack carried out by the Turkish state on a vehicle in the Seyîdsadiq district of Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî). Six other journalists, including Chatr Company director Rêbin Bekir (30), were injured.

Trade unions, associations and political parties protested the attack and called for the killers to be brought to justice.

IHD condemned killings of journalists

The Human Rights Association (IHD) said in a statement that “Kurdish media workers continue to be the target of bombs. Kurdish media and journalists, who were tried to be silenced with disappearances in custody and bombings of newspaper buildings in the 1990s, continue to be the target of bombs. On Friday, as the result of a drone attack on a vehicle in Sulaymaniyah in the Kurdistan Regional Government, two female Kurdish journalists (Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn) lost their lives. As human rights defenders, we consider this incident a massacre of journalists. It is known that Turkey has been conducting military operations in the region for some time.

We call on the Iraqi Government, the Republic of Turkey and the Kurdistan Regional Government to take responsibility bringing the killers to justice. We also demand that the details of the attack be facilitated for independent institutions to investigate. Free Media cannot be silenced.”

DEM party: the pens will not remain on the ground

The Women's Assembly of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) also issued a written statement, saying that the targeting of the vehicle carrying journalists was a deliberate and organized attack. “By targeting women journalists who exposed the attacks on the Kurdish people and women in the Federal Kurdistan Region, an attempt was made to cover up the war crimes committed in the region. The aim of this attack is to deepen the annexation and occupation policies and to prevent an international reaction against such policies.”

The statement continued: “These attacks on the Kurdish people, the gains of the Kurdish people, and the struggle for freedom have been carried out by agents and paramilitary forces before. Our journalist Nagihan Akarsel was murdered in Sulaymaniyah as a result of one of these attacks. The imperial powers and paramilitary structures that carried out this attack will not be able to intimidate the struggle of the Kurdish people, women, or women journalists.

We will not allow the war crimes committed to be covered up with civilian massacres. The Federal Kurdistan administration must immediately make a statement about these killings. It must expose the powers behind this massacre and hold them accountable. Otherwise, it will be directly responsible for and a party to these killings. Just as we keep our journalist Nagihan alive with her ideas, writings and struggle wherever we are, we reiterate our promise that we will keep the struggle of our comrades Gulistan Tara and Hero Bahadin alive as well. The pens of Kurdish women journalists of the free media will not remain on the ground.”

DISK BASIN IŞ: Attacks must end

DİSK Basın Iş posted a statement saying, “Journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn lost their lives in the attack on the vehicle carrying journalists in Süleymaniyah. Journalists who ensure the public’s right to receive news and who perform a public service in this sense are also civilians, and international laws prohibit the targeting of civilians and therefore journalists in any type of conflict. We condemn this attack on our colleagues and offer our condolences to their families. All attacks on journalists must end immediately.”

Women journalists call for action to end the attacks against the Free Press

YRJ: The Turkish state and the KDP are the murderers of journalists and women

YRJ condemned the murder of two journalists in a Turkish attack in South Kurdistan and emphasised that the perpetrators are the occupying Turkish state and its spy, the ruling KDP in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.


ANF
QAMISHLO
Saturday, 24 August 2024, 14:06

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.”

Yazidi journalists: Turkey’s attacks will not stop us

"The Turkish state is attacking journalists with the support of the KDP," said the Yazidi journalists paying tribute to two of their colleagues who were killed in a Turkish drone attack yesterday.


ANF
SHENGAL
Saturday, 24 August 2024

Members of the Free Press in Shengal (Sinjar) gathered in the ‘Leader’s Garden’ in Kersê Valley and made a press statement regarding Friday’s deadly Turkish attack that claimed the lives of two female journalists in Sulaymaniyah city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

Carrying the photographs of their fallen colleagues, Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, Yazidi journalists condemned the attack by the Turkish state and its collaborators and called on media institutions and organisations to protect the rights of journalists.

Speaking here, free press worker Rojbîn Hebabî said the following: “Journalists are targeted by the occupying Turkish state because they reveal the truth. We state hereby that the attacks of the Turkish state will not stop us. On the contrary, every attack will strengthen us. Every martyrdom raises our determination to struggle and makes our voice sound even stronger.”

Journalist Ibrahim Êzidî stated that the KDP had a hand in the attack in Sulaymaniyah, which, he said, was a result of the agreement between Iraq and Turkey.

“We renew here once again the promise of struggle we gave to our martyrs. While the free press is based on the democratic nation system, KDP's media organisations are based on slavery and the occupation of Kurdistan. The fact that the KDP media outlets reported the attack before anyone else shows that they had a hand in the attack. Our struggle for the truth will continue until the end. We know that all journalists who express the pain of the society and try to be the voice of their people become targets. They cannot make us take a step back with these attacks. We will always follow in the footsteps of our martyrs,” he stated.

Ibrahim Êzidî concluded: "These attacks against journalists are the beginning of a new phase. Targeting journalists shows the dirty and dangerous plans behind the attack. Those who do not accept the KDP administration and the occupation of the Turkish state become the targets of attacks.”

Hewlêr Reporters Organisation: The killing of journalists is against international laws

Hewlêr Reporters' Organisation said that the killings of journalists in and outside the Kurdistan Region continue and called on international organisations to put pressure on Iraq's neighbouring countries to keep the war away from civilians.


ANF
HEWLÊR
Saturday, 24 August 2024

Hewlêr (Erbil) Organisation for the Protection and Promotion of Reporters' Rights held a press statement on the Turkish attack on free press journalists which resulted in the martyrdom of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Behadîn in Sulaymaniyah on Friday.

Hozan Kadir, President of the Hewlêr Organisation for the Protection and Promotion of Reporters' Rights, said the following in his speech at the press conference on Saturday: “Terrorist attacks against journalists in and outside the Kurdistan Region continue. We strongly condemn the attack in which two female journalists lost their lives yesterday. We call on international organisations to put pressure on Iraq's neighbouring countries to keep the war away from civilians.”

Hozan Kadir called on the Turkish state to stop its attacks on journalists and added: “Unfortunately, the attitude of the governments of Iraq and Kurdistan Region in the face of the attacks is very weak. At a time when neighbouring countries are bombing Kurdistan's villages and districts and targeting innocent people, the governments are unable to protect the sovereignty of their own lands.”

Hozan Kadir concluded; “There can be no justification for the martyrdom of the two journalists. This attack is against all international principles and laws.”

Women journalists stated that the pen and camera of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, who were murdered by the Turkish state in Southern Kurdistan, will not remain unclaimed.


NUJIYAN ADAR
QAMISHLO
Saturday, 24 August 2024

A Turkish UCAV targeted a vehicle travelling in Sulaymaniyah city of southern Kurdistan (northern Iraq) yesterday (23 August), killing journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn.

Media workers and journalists attending the press conference held by the Women's Press Union (YRJ) in Qamishlo spoke to ANF about the attack and called on relevant institutions and organisations defending the right to journalism to take action.

‘They target those women who have tasted freedom’

Lîlav Hesen said, “Women who unite around the slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ [Woman, Life, Freedom] are directly targeted by hegemonic states. They see women's cries for freedom as a threat to their own interests, so they target women in social, economic, health, cultural and media organisations who have tasted freedom. Targeting women journalists is not a first. A year before the day Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered, a vehicle of JIN TV had been targeted, leaving JIN TV employee Necmeddîn Sînan dead and Delîla Egîd seriously injured. It is not a coincidence that the attack in Southern Kurdistan coincided with the same day.”


‘A dirty war policy is pursued against the Free Press workers’

Lîlav Hesen emphasised that in Southern Kurdistan, the Turkish state carries out journalism activities comfortably, but the Free Press is faced with dangers. Drawing attention to the betrayal of the KDP, the ruling party in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, she stated: “A dirty war policy is pursued against the Free Press workers. Sometimes they are murdered, sometimes they are kidnapped, sometimes they are imprisoned. These practices mean the end of the Turkish state and KDP. They target the Free Press workers who expose their annihilation and genocide policies and reveal the truth.”

‘We will follow in their footsteps’

Lîlav Hesen noted that Gulistan Tara was a pioneer in press organisations and especially in the women's press and added: ‘The loss of Gulistan Tara was heavy for all press employees. We will follow in the footsteps of Martyr Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahaddîn until there is one single woman journalist left. Their pens and cameras will not remain unclaimed."

‘Journalists announce the colour, voice, resistance and struggle of women to the world’

Cûdî Elî said: ‘The Turkish state is especially targeting women journalists. Women journalists are leading the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ revolution. They announce the colour, voice, resistance and struggle of women to the world. We have always taken as a basis a women-oriented press in line with the paradigm of women's freedom and the paths women have travelled in social, political, economic and cultural development. Therefore, Gulistan Tara, our pioneer, had an important place in the wind of the women's freedom revolution.”


‘They will not be able to silence women journalists’

Noting that the attack in the territory of Southern Kurdistan was shameful, Cûdî Elî concluded: ‘The KDP's partnership with the Turkish state and the silence of the Iraqi government cause the attacks to increase. Women journalists, politicians and activists have been targeted many times in the territory of Southern Kurdistan. In addition, the existing rights of journalists are being obstructed. Despite these attacks, they will not be able to silence women journalists. As YRJ members, we will carry the legacy left by our martyred journalist friends to victory.”

‘The KDP and the Iraqi government are responsible’

Pointing out that this is not the first time the Turkish state targets women journalists, Evîn Îbrahîm said: “The KDP and the Iraqi government are responsible and to blame for the deadly attack on Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahaddîn because the Turkish state cannot carry out such attacks without their approval. If it wasn’t for their approval, it would not have been possible for Turkey to carry out attacks against civilians in Southern Kurdistan in a comfortable way.”


‘We will raise our struggle to free the truth from the darkness’

Evîn Îbrahim stressed that as women journalists, they will move forward by adding strength to the pen and camera of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, and concluded her speech as follows: “The slogan ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’, pioneered by Kurdish women, is being shouted around the world today. Everyone demands their freedom under this slogan. It was women journalists who announced the ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ uprising to the world and peoples, and they sacrificed their lives for this slogan. As women journalists, we will raise our struggle to free the truth from the darkness. We also call on relevant institutions and organisations to take action to end the attacks against journalists.”