We are heartbroken and outraged by the deliberate killing of our fellow journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin in a Turkish drone strike on 19 December 2024. This targeted attack occurred on the road between the Tishreen Dam and the town of Sirrin in northeast Syria. While travelling in their vehicle with driver Ezîz Hec Bozan, the journalists were brutally killed, and their driver was seriously injured.
This is not an isolated incident but part of an alarming pattern of attacks by Turkey aimed at silencing critical journalism. This calculated strike is an attack on truth, freedom, and human rights, marking yet another war crime targeting those who report on the realities of Turkish aggression in Kurdish regions.
Nazım Daştan, a correspondent for ANF, and Cihan Bilgin, working with ANHA, had dedicated years to covering developments in northeastern Syria. They reported on the struggles and resilience of the region amidst constant threats. Their bravery in exposing the truth and documenting ongoing Turkish assaults made them targets of state violence.
This attack follows a series of killings targeting Kurdish journalists. In July, Ezidi journalist Murad Mîrza Ibrahim was killed by a Turkish drone in Şengal, and in August, Kurdish journalists Gulîstan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn were murdered in a similar strike near Sulaymaniyah. These systematic assaults underscore Turkey’s determination to eliminate any voice that challenges its imperial ambitions.
Organisations and unions supporting press freedom worldwide must urgently mobilise to demand accountability. The deliberate targeting of journalists is a clear violation of international law and constitutes a war crime. A comprehensive and independent international investigation is essential to ensure justice for the victims and to prevent further atrocities.
Nazım and Cihan were not only journalists but defenders of truth and chroniclers of resistance. Their lives were dedicated to illuminating the stories of those often silenced. We honour their legacy by continuing their work and refusing to let their voices be erased.
The MedyaNews community calls on all global journalistic organisations, unions, and human rights defenders to act swiftly. We must stand united to protect journalists, uphold press freedom, and demand justice for the deliberate murder of our colleagues.
MedyaNews Journalism Community
20 December 2024
