The Free Women's Press (RAJIN) commemorated Gurbetelli Ersöz and Nagihan Akarsel in a written statement marking the Kurdish Women Journalists' Day, October 7.

“We commemorate all the martyrs of the free press in the persons of Gurbetelli Ersöz and Nagihan Akarsel who were revolutionaries, journalists and pioneers of the women's freedom struggle. We reiterate our promise to continue the struggle,” RAJIN said in a written statement on Friday.

The statement emphasized that RAJIN would remain committed to promoting women's revolution, the thoughts, hopes, ideals and struggles of women who resist and aspire to freedom.

Paying tribute to Nagihan Akarsel who was murdered in Sulaymaniyah on October 4, RAJIN stated, “Revolutionary, journalist and an academician in the Jineology Research Centre, Nagihan Akarsel worked for the free media in North Kurdistan for many years, taking inspiration from Gurbetelli and other resisting women. She always resisted all forms of oppression and brutal attacks by the invading Turkish state. She left a legacy based on the free press and the science of women (Jineology). She undertook the mission to disseminate the science of women to all women in the world. She encouraged women, in particular in South Kurdistan and Rojava, to study Jineology together in public.”

In a reference to revolutionary and journalist Gurbeteli Ersöz who was martyred on October 7, 1997, the statement pointed out that the Turkish state continued its hostility towards the Kurdish people, the freedom movement and specifically the leading women of the women's revolution.

“We believe in the philosophy of 'Jin, Jîyan, Azadi' (Woman, Life, Freedom). The truth will never remain in the dark. It is our turn now to continue the struggle of Gurbetelli, Nagihan and thousands of truth seekers until the women's revolution comes through,” the statement concluded.