TURKIYE'S WAR ON KURDISTAN
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.”
