News Center- The Union of Free Media (Kurdish:Yekîtiya Ragihandina Azad-YRA) has released a statement to mark the World Press Freedom Day. Violations against the freedom of press and journalists have globally intensified despite UN Security Council Resolution 2222 on protection of journalists and associated media personnel in armed conflict, the statement emphasized.

 ‘Do not remain silent against attacks on journalists’

Pointing to Turkish attacks on journalists in North and East Syria, the statement recalled the Turkish drone attack on a vehicle belonging to the all-female broadcaster JIN TV, killing driver Najm el-Din Faisal Haj Sinan and injuring journalist Dalila Agid. “The Turkish state targets journalists because it is afraid of journalists,” said the statement, reminding the attacks on journalists in Southern Kurdistan. “Sleman Mohammed Ahmed, an Arabic editor for RojNews and member of the YRA, was arrested on October 25, 2023 at the border of Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan and his whereabouts are still unknown.”

In the statement, the YRA condemned the attacks and rights violations against journalists all around the world and called on the UN and international organizations not to “remain silent against the attacks on the freedom of press and journalists in North and East Syria. Fulfill your duty according to international conventions.”