BÊRîVAN ÇİYA

Shengal (Sinjar)- 127 years have passed since the first issue of the Kurdistan newspaper was published in Cairo on April 22, 1898, by Miqdad Madhad Badirkhan. The newspaper was printed in Cairo due to the crackdown by the Ottoman Empire. Totally, 31 issues of the newspaper were published from 1898 to 1902.  Since 1973, April 22 has been celebrated as Kurdish Journalism Day.

Journalists played an important role in reporting the genocide committed by ISIS against the Yazidi community in Shengal August 3, 2014. Journalist Nûjiyan Erhan, who was killed in the attack carried out by Roj Peshmerga of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) while covering a clash that broke out in the Xanesor town of Shengal on March 3, 2017, also played a leading role in the development of journalism in Shengal. Since then, journalism in Shengal has developed, gaining experience to make the voices of people heard.

‘We are journalists today thanks to the efforts of our martyrs’

“April 22 is an important day that has its name written in history in gold letters,” said Emîra Zozan, a journalist and member of the Young Women’s Union. As women journalists in Shengal, we are journalists today thanks to the efforts of our martyrs. Before the genocide, there were not journalists in Shengal. If Shengal had had journalists, we would not have been subjected to the genocide.”

‘We will keep being the color and voice of the Yazidi community’

Emîra Zozan also talked about the media martyrs of the press in Shengal. “Journalist Nujîyan Erhan founded the women's press in Shengal in 2015. In the beginning, she faced many challenges because our society did not do anything about journalism. Today, the women’s press is very strong in Shengal thanks to our martyrs and comrades like Nûjiyan. Today, we understand our history, the history of the women's press, and make great efforts thanks to the thoughts and philosophy of leader Apo (Abdullah Öcalan). Although special warfare and systematic attacks are carried out against women journalists in Shengal, we are determined to resist them. Many of our colleagues have been killed until now. We vow to follow in their footsteps to be the voice of the truth. As women journalists, we will keep being the color and voice of the Yazidi community.”

‘If you think, you are free’

Nûjiyan Erhan taught many women how to be journalists. “Yazidi women journalists will always be the voice of women and their community,” said Emîra Zozan, who was one of the students of Nûjiyan Erhan. “We are the students of martyr Nûjiyan. As women, we must unite against the patriarchal mindset affecting our society. If you think, you are free. As women journalists, we must always think and improve ourselves.”

‘Journalists are targeted’

Hêvîdar Şengalî, a reporter of Jin TV, wished a happy Kurdish Journalism Day to all journalists and said, “Journalism has been developing in Shengal under the leadership of women for about 10 years. As Yazidi women journalists, we make great efforts to make the voice of our people heard. As is known, journalists are targeted, killed and arrested everywhere. They are arrested in Northern Kurdistan and killed in Rojava while covering clashes. In Shengal, journalists are also targeted. Two years ago, our colleague Murad was killed in an attack on a journalists’ vehicle.”

‘We will pursue the truth even if we are targeted’

Hêvîdar Şengalî talked about the attacks on journalists and said, “We will pursue the truth even if we are targeted and killed. We do journalism by following in the footsteps of martyr Nûjiyan. As women journalists, we call on all young women to be the voice of the truth.”