News Center- On August 23, 2024, a Turkish drone targeted a vehicle carrying journalists in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah, killing two women journalists, Gülistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn.

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Coordination of the World March of Women has released a statement condemning the Turkish drone attack targeting and killing two women journalists.

“Two journalists were martyred on Friday in an aerial attack carried out by the occupying Turkish state on a car, which was carrying journalists in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah. The two martyrs, Hêro Bahadîn and Gulistan Tara, were working as part of a media team for the Jeter Company,” the statement said.

The statement also gave information about the lives of the two journalists. “The martyr, Hêro Bahadîn, was specialized in montage. She was a resident of the Sankaw area in Sulaymaniyah. . She dedicated her life to media work in Kurdistan. The martyr, Gulistan Tara, was from the city Batman in northern Kurdistan. She worked as a professional journalist since 2000 and she was a prominent member of the Free Media Institution.”

‘This merciless attack is part of a series of Turkish attacks on the Kurdistan Region’

“This merciless attack is part of a series of Turkish attacks on the Kurdistan Region,” the statement added. “Six other journalists were also injured in the attack. These crimes are against the growing global feminist movement. The women of the Middle East and North Africa are witnesses of crisis. The goal of the attacks is to break the will of women and to suppress their aspirations for freedom and equality. Such attacks by masculine dictatorships are just a reflection of deep fears towards radical changes led by women's struggles. It is a struggle that has become a symbol of hope and freedom in the face of oppression and tyranny.

‘We strongly condemn the Turkish state’

“As coordination of the World March of Women in the Middle East and North Africa region, , we strongly condemn the Turkish state, which is continuing to target journalists in its ongoing attempts to silence free voices that seek to uncover the truth. These criminal attacks are part of a systematic policy to eliminate the truth and break the will of the Kurdish nation and the other nations of the region. Targeting of activist journalists like Gulistan Tara and Hêro Bahadîn is clear proof of the extent of the fear that controls these oppressive regimes toward the ability of women to change reality and revolutionize societal awareness.”

Criticizing the silence of the international community and the Iraqi government, against rights violations in the Kurdistan Region, the coordination said, “Their silence means they are a party to these crimes and gives a green light for more attacks. Targeting of journalists is a part of a wider strategy that aims to silence everyone who dares to expose injustice and uncover the truth. It is important to mention that according to international laws, targeting journalists is a war crime and states and regimes that practice this kind of gross violation of human rights and free press must be punished. The systematic targeting of women in the Middle East and North Africa today is not just an attempt to suppress their movement; it is an attack on truth itself. We are witnessing murders, detentions, death sentences, and the systematic targeting of women leaders, all with the aim of undermining women's free spirit of resistance.

Call on feminists to unite

“We call on all feminist forces around the world to join hands and unite to confront these challenges. We need to strengthen our feminist front regionally and globally to face oppressive regimes that aim to break women's struggles and miscarry their aspirations. Cross border feminist solidarity is an urgent necessity at this difficult time, especially when women are at the forefront of the struggle for freedom and justice.

“Finally, we assure that these crimes will not prevent us from continuing our struggle. On the contrary, the blood of the martyrs will be fuel to ignite more struggles until we reach our goal of achieving freedom and equality. We will continue raising the voice of truth and stand strong in the face of injustice and persecution, believing in the philosophy of “Women, Life, Freedom” as a way towards a bright and just future for all women.”