Turkey’s leading human rights watchdog, the Human Rights Association (İHD), has strongly condemned the recent Turkish drone strike in Sulaymaniyah (Silêmanî) that claimed the lives of two Kurdish journalists, Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn.
Describing the incident as a “journalist massacre,” the İHD called for accountability from the Iraqi government, the Turkish state, and the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG).
The attack, which took place within the KRG territory, has drawn widespread criticism, particularly due to the ongoing military operations by Turkey in the region. The İHD emphasised that Kurdish journalists have long been targeted, recalling the brutal tactics used in the 1990s, including enforced disappearances and bombings of newspaper offices. “The Kurdish press, which was silenced through disappearances and bombings in the 1990s, continues to be a target today,” the İHD stated.
The İHD has urged the governments involved to take responsibility for the attack, calling for an independent investigation by impartial bodies. The organisation also highlighted the importance of press freedom, asserting that the attack is a direct assault on the right to report the truth.
Press Workers’ Union of Turkey (Basın-İş), affiliated with the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), also condemned the attack, emphasising that such acts not only violate the rights of journalists but also undermine the fundamental principle of the public’s right to information. The union reiterated that journalists are civilians and must be protected under international law, which unequivocally prohibits the targeting of civilians, including journalists, in any conflict. They urged immediate global action to put an end to these attacks and ensure that press freedom is upheld.
