A memorial event has been held in Bergisch Gladbach, Germany, for Kurdish journalists Gulîstan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn, who were killed in a Turkish drone strike near Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî), Iraqi Kurdistan, on 23 August.
The attack targeted a vehicle carrying media workers, of whom Tara and Bahadîn were killed and the remainder were injured, one seriously. Family members of the women killed, journalists and Kurdish community representatives attended the event, which featured speeches highlighting the journalists’ dedication to truth and the impact of their deaths on the Kurdish struggle for freedom.
The commemoration included tributes, personal testimonies and a call to continue the two women’s legacy in the face of increasing attacks on the press in Iraqi Kurdistan. Photos of the murdered journalists were displayed prominently at the event, along with pictures of other female journalists and activists killed in similar Turkish drone strikes. The ceremony began with a minute’s silence in memory of those who have fallen in the struggle for Kurdish freedom.
Tara’s elder sister Ülkem İsen attended and spoke at the ceremony. In her speech, she highlighted the widespread outrage in Kurdistan over her sister’s death, and underlined the importance of the work Gulîstan and her colleagues had been doing. She said that despite the late hour of its arrival, large crowds had gathered in Batman (Elih) to receive Gulîstan’s body, reflecting the deep grief and solidarity felt by the Kurdish people in all four parts of Kurdistan.
Roni Eylem, speaking on behalf of the Kurdistan Journalists Initiative (ROJIN), shared personal memories of Gulîstan and emphasised her commitment to the truth. Eylem said that Gulîstan’s perseverance had been a source of pride not only for her family and friends, but for all Kurds. She described Gulîstan’s courage and resistance as emblematic of the struggle for truth and freedom, adding that she was not just a journalist but a voice for her people.
Eylem also spoke about Bahadîn, acknowledging her professional growth and development as a testament to the culture of the free press. She described Bahadîn as following in Tara’s footsteps and becoming a defender of the truth herself.
Pero Dündar, from the European Kurdish Women’s Movement, described Tara and Bahadîn as staunch defenders of the tradition of resistance of the free press. Dündar condemned the Turkish state’s attempts to silence the truth through such attacks against journalists, and attributed these actions to the Barzani family’s betrayal of Kurdish interests, which she said has allowed Turkey to operate freely and target those working for the freedom struggle in Iraqi Kurdistan.
The event continued with a video presentation about the lives and struggles of Tara and Bahadîn, followed by a speech by their colleague Rêz Letîf, who shared memories of working alongside them in Sulaymaniyah.
Journalists Günay Aslan and Arzu Demir also spoke, with Aslan vowing to continue their struggle. Demir, who condemned the killing of journalists, stressed the importance of solidarity between the Kurdish and Turkish peoples in order to achieve liberation. She said that the legacy of Gulîstan and Hêro would live on through the dedication and efforts of those who continue their work.
The event concluded with a performance by artist Bermal Çem, who sang in memory of Gulîstan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn.
