The Kurdish Women Journalists Association (ROJIN) and the Democratic Media Union of Kurdistan (YRD) have issued strong statements condemning the killing of journalists Cîhan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan in a Turkish drone strike in northeast Syria on 19 December. Both organisations have described the attack as part of a wider campaign of genocidal aggression by the Turkish state against the Kurdish people, the Rojava revolution, and press freedom.
A targeted attack on truth seekers
According to ROJIN, Bilgin and Daştan were reporting on Turkey’s ongoing assault on the autonomous Kurdish-led region of Rojava. They were killed while documenting atrocities committed by Turkish-backed mercenary groups and exposing Turkey’s covert alliances with groups like the Islamic State (ISIS) and the Syrian National Army (SNA).
Kurdish journalist Cîhan Bilgin’s final video report, recorded three hours before she and her colleague Nazim Daştan were killed in a Turkish drone strike near Kobani on 19 December 2024, reflects her steadfast dedication to truth. Both journalists worked tirelessly to expose the Turkish state’s war crimes in northeast Syria and document the suffering of civilians. Their courage in reporting from the conflict zone underscores the vital role of independent journalism in revealing atrocities and demanding accountability.
“They courageously risked their lives to uncover the truth about Turkey’s genocidal policies and its complicity with ISIS and SNA militias.”
Turkey’s systematic assault on free press
YRD highlighted that this was not an isolated incident but part of a systematic campaign by Turkey to silence dissent and suppress the Kurdish fight for democracy and autonomy.
“The Turkish state continues to target journalists to mask its genocidal policies and war propaganda,” YRD said.
“Cîhan and Nazım stood as truth warriors, exposing Turkey’s aggression and countering its narratives of war. Their deaths are a loss to the free press and humanity.”
Both organisations emphasised that Turkey’s attacks are not just physical but ideological, targeting the ideals of the Rojava revolution and its commitment to women’s liberation, democracy, and inclusivity.
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A call for global solidarity
ROJIN and YRD urged international organisations, including media watchdogs and human rights groups, to take action against Turkey’s ongoing targeting of journalists.
“The deliberate killing of journalists is an international crime. We call on the global community to intervene and hold Turkey accountable for its crimes,” ROJIN stated.
“To silence the truth is to allow darkness to prevail—a darkness that threatens humanity, especially women and children,” they added.
YRD echoed this call, tying the journalists’ deaths to a legacy of resistance. “From Mazlum and Gurbetelli to Apê Musa and Seyit Evran, the legacy of our fallen comrades has grown stronger with each attack. Cîhan and Nazım’s fight lives on in every journalist who carries the torch of truth.”
Carrying the legacy forward
Both organisations pledged to honour the sacrifice of Bilgin and Daştan by continuing their mission to uncover hidden truths and amplify the voices of the oppressed.
“To those hiding in the shadows, fearing the light of truth: your massacres and threats will not silence us. We will continue to expose your crimes and hold you accountable before history and humanity,” ROJIN concluded.
The deaths of Cîhan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan underscore the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones, particularly those covering Turkey’s military operations in northeast Syria. Their courage and commitment to truth remain a guiding light for the Kurdish resistance and the fight for justice.
