The MKG and DFG said in a statement that "press freedom is one of the cornerstones of democratic societies, and no amount of pressure, threat or attack can silence the voices of journalists who are determined to uncover the truth."
The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) and the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) made a joint statement regarding the attack carried out by the Turkish state against free media workers in the Seyidsadıq district of Sulaymaniyah.
The statement said: "Attacks against journalists are not limited to Sulaymaniyah. In the airstrike carried out by Turkey on 20 November 2022 in Derik, a district of Northern and Eastern Syria, 9 people, including Hawar News Agency reporter Isam Ebdullah, lost their lives and 3 people were injured. Similarly, on 24 August 2023, a Turkish drone attacked a vehicle carrying JIN TV employees on the Qamishlo-Amudê road, resulting in the death of JIN TV employee Necmeddin Feysel Hecî. In a Turkish drone attack on Shengal on 8 July 2024, Çira TV reporter Murad Mirza Ibrahim lost his life. In the same attack, Çira TV employees Mydia Hussen and Khalaf Khdir were injured."
The MKG and DFG added: "Freedom of the press is one of the cornerstones of democratic societies, and no amount of pressure, threat or attack can silence the voices of journalists who are determined to uncover the truth and follow the truth. The Free Press is the most fundamental guarantee of the public’s access to accurate information. However, this guarantee is being weakened every passing day by targeting courageous journalists who follow the truth. However, despite all this pressure and attacks, we, as journalists, will never give up our determination to follow the truth. The power of truth will grow with every voice that is tried to be silenced."
The statement continued: "These painful events in which our colleagues lost their lives are painful proof of how journalists fulfill their duties under difficult conditions. Gulistan Tara, Hero Bahadin, Isam Ebdullah, Necmeddin Feysel Heci and Murad Mirza Ibrahim are journalists who worked selflessly to ensure that the public learned the truth and lost their lives in the line of duty. We reiterate that we will keep their memory alive with our pens and cameras."
The two organizations wished "a speedy recovery to our injured colleagues, and offer our condolences to the families of our lost friends and to all our friends who struggle in the tradition of the free media. We respectfully bow before the memories of Gulistan Tara, Hero Bahadin, Isam Ebdullah, Necmeddin Feysel Heci, Murad Mirza Ibrahim and Nagihan Akarsel."
