NEWS CENTER– The annual "Gurbetelli Ersöz Award for Women's Journalism" honors pioneering female journalists in women's issues and societal challenges, and the award bears the name of the first female editor-in-chief of a daily newspaper in Turkey, in commemoration of her courageous legacy.

The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MGK) revealed the names of the winners of the "Gurbetelli Ersöz Award for Women's Journalism" in its second edition this year. The competition witnessed honoring female journalists who distinguished themselves in producing news reports in both Kurdish and Turkish, alongside the categories of video news and photography, to shed light on productions that enhance women's media presence and their tireless pursuit of truth.

In a special gesture, the honorary award this year went to the women who led the movement to protect their environment and future in the face of geothermal energy projects in Van and Bingöl.

The list of winners of the Gurbetelli Ersöz Award for Women's Journalism in the Kurdish news branch included journalist Berez Ramadan, who was granted the first prize for her report titled "Çîroka Aske Kerîm: Birîndarek zindî ya karesata Enfalê û hovîtiya li Nugre Selman," by the judging committee that included: Sona Tunç, Khadija Kamr, and Leyla Ayaz.

Journalist Elif Akgül won the first prize in the Turkish news category for her investigation "Death in Nine Installments: Access to Unlicensed Weapons in Turkey," published on the Inside Turkey platform. Journalists Gulistan Gülmüş and Derya Ren won the special jury prize for their report "A Woman Threatened by a Released Presidential Guard," published by JINNEWS agency.

In the video news category, the first prize was granted to the work titled "Hêviya Vegerê" (Hope of Return), prepared jointly by journalists Sawsan Ali and Maryam Rasho, after evaluation by the judging committee that included: Solin Alvan Başmaz, Çilem Küçükkeleş, and Rojbin Akin.

In the photography category, JINNEWS agency correspondent, photographer Nudem Mohammed, won the first prize for her shot "It Does Not Go Out." The special jury prize in the same category went to (Ajansa Welat) agency correspondent, photographer Sima Gizigi, for her work titled "Qêrîna Bêdeng" (Silent Scream). The judging committee for this category consisted of: Neşmiye Güler, Laura Dominik, and Maryam Ashrafi.

An Honorary Award for Those Who Resist

The honorary award this year was granted to the women defending their environment, homes, and future in the face of geothermal energy projects. The committee's statement said: "The struggle that began in Van in northern Kurdistan on the 22nd of last January turned into a peaceful sit-in in which a tent was pitched in the village of Şvarik on the third of last May, reaching its 155th day."

The statement confirmed that in the village of "Lisik" in Karlıova in Bingöl province, 60 days have passed since the start of the effective resistance on the 7th of last August against the company's attempts to drill. Accordingly, the Gurbetelli Ersöz Honorary Award for Women's Journalism was granted in appreciation of this collective and organized struggle to protect land, water, and homes.