In response to the assassination of journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu by the Turkish state, the DFG and the MKG issued a strong statement, declaring, "The Free Press has never stepped back in the face of massacres, attacks, or censorship. It will not do so now either.  
The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) have condemned the assassination of journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu. 
The statement by the DFG and the MKG reads as follows: 

"Free Press workers strive to bring the truth to the public, not only in Kurdistan and Turkey but also across the Middle East and the world. Despite the harshest conditions, they remain steadfast in their pursuit of truth, undeterred by risks and dangers. Throughout this struggle, many of our colleagues have been assassinated, arrested, or sentenced to long prison terms. Yet, despite all attacks, repression, and censorship imposed by governments, this relentless search for truth has never ceased. Free Press journalists have never stepped back from their duty, even at the cost of their own lives. 

Today, another Free Press journalist was killed in an airstrike. On 27 January, Turkey carried out an attack in the Ranya district of Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî), killing journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu."

The statement added: "Born in 1976 in Amed (Diyarbakır), Köylüoğlu started his career in the early 2000s. From working as a reporter and cameraman to serving as an editor, news director, and finally as editor-in-chief, he worked at every level of journalism for many years.  He reported from Hewlêr (Erbil) to Sulaymaniyah, Kirkuk (Kerkûk) to Maxmur, and from Derik in Northern and Eastern Syria to Afrin (Efrîn). We strongly condemn the assassination of our colleague, who dedicated his life to delivering the truth to society, which was carried out through an airstrike.

We know that these attacks are neither the first nor will they be the last.  We have witnessed this firsthand through the killing of five of our journalist colleagues in the past six months. On 23 July 2024, Turkey assassinated journalists Gülistan Tara and Hero Bahadin in Silêmanî. On December 19, it massacred journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan in Northern and Eastern Syria. During this period, many of our colleagues who protested against these massacres were either detained or arrested.  Most recently, on 7 January, journalist Öznur Değer was arrested simply for sharing photos of Nazım and Cihan."

We do not accept these attacks on journalists and call on all professional organizations and civil society to take a stand against them. Journalists are the voice of truth. If this truth is murdered, then this voice will also be silenced. In the face of this attempt to silence us, we make a promise once again: not a single pen or camera belonging to our massacred colleagues will be left on the ground.  The Free Press has never backed down in the face of massacres, attacks, or censorship. It will not back down now.