HELIN AHMAD

Sulaymaniyah — August 23 marks the second anniversary of the martyrdom of Kilistan Tara and Hero Bahadin—journalists who carried a free voice and were killed in a drone strike. Despite two years of silence, their memory remains present in the path of free journalism.

The place where Hero Bahadin and Kilistan Tara worked was not merely a professional space; it became a platform through which they carried the people's voice with the lens of a camera and the eloquence of a pen. For Hero and Kilistan, journalism was an extension of a daily struggle with society's reality, and a space to convey essential messages reflecting what citizens live. However, this path was cut short on August 23, 2024, when a Turkish state drone targeted the vehicle they were traveling in, leading to their martyrdom in an unjustified attack that silenced their voices in the field.

Today, in the very place where Hero Bahadin and Kilistan Tara worked and struggled for freedom of speech, their memory is recalled with all respect and appreciation. Their memory is not merely an evocation of a painful past but an affirmation of the impact they made and the professional and human legacy they left behind, which will always remain present.

"Continuing Their Struggle Is the Truest Way to Preserve Their Memory"

Journalist Hojin Shiwani, a colleague of the two martyrs, explained that their role in defending press freedom was not merely professional work but an extension of a deeply held intellectual conviction in democracy, women's freedom, and building a society more in harmony with its environment. Kilistan Tara dedicated many years of her life to this approach, and was among the first to teach a generation of journalists the philosophy of free media, maintaining a pure spirit and a distinctive human relationship with her colleagues.

About Hero Bahadin, she said she carried a different presence among women working in media. Although she was an engineer, her passion for communication drove her to journalism, where she waged her struggle with limited resources and great determination until the very last moment. With this spirit, "we affirm that continuing to work with a liberated mind and faith in the mission of free media is the truest way to preserve their memory."

"We Will Continue Their Struggle"

She continued: "At the beginning of our work, we were a group of young women, some of us university students. When we entered free media, we saw Hero Bahadin. She was exceptional, following our topics and always paying attention to our work. She also monitored the work and activities of external media. She constantly worked on developing content, and thanks to her observations and suggestions, we grew stronger day by day. She made us journalists capable of advancing more in content and substance, and to have our work and struggle based on the thought and ideology of freedom, so we could continue working in the footsteps of freedom."

She added: "The work and struggle of Kilistan Tara and Hero Bahadin have always remained alive in our memory. After their martyrdom and with the will that was formed in the face of every challenge, we knew how to keep their role and path alive. This is the path of comradeship that makes us walk with thousands of fighters in free media. We showed our strength at the moment of their martyrdom and after as well. All women working in free media have taken the path of the two martyrs as the foundation of their work. There may be shortcomings in some aspects and we may not be able to fully fill their place, but despite all our shortcomings, we have not abandoned their path, and we will be supporters of their journey and struggle, and we will continue to walk in their footsteps."

"Work of Great Value"

For her part, Jian San, a friend and colleague of the martyrs Kilistan Tara and Hero Bahadin, affirmed that their struggle in the Kurdistan Region represents work of great value in the path of free media, noting that the two journalists worked tirelessly to convey a free voice, and that Kilistan Tara, who came from North Kurdistan, left a significant mark on media work in the Kurdistan Region.

She explained that their martyrdom formed a pivotal moment in the path of free media work. "On the day after their departure, I said that continuing journalistic work and the path of Kilistan and Hero has become a responsibility that falls on us. They left as many colleagues and journalists have left on this path. What is a source of pride is that the number of those working in free media is increasing day by day."

"She Became a Shining Light"

For her part, Berivan Bahadin, sister of Hero Bahadin, said that two years have passed since her martyrdom, but for them, it feels like only two days have passed. Her departure has left deep sorrow in the hearts of her family and friends. "Since her martyrdom, every day that passes is a day of tears and sorrow, but despite the difficulties, her friends and colleagues are the ones who always keep her memory alive."

Berivan Bahadin, sister of journalist Hero Bahadin, said that two years have passed since her sister's martyrdom, but the family's sense of loss remains as if it happened only two days ago. She explained that Hero's absence has left deep sorrow. "Every day since her martyrdom carries more tears and pain, yet her friends and colleagues continue to keep her memory alive and preserve her presence in their thoughts despite all the difficulties."

She affirmed that Hero Bahadin has become a shining light for her family. "In our family, the children always miss Hero, as she had a distinctive personality and always sought to make them happy and play with them. But after her martyrdom, the children, especially my sister Kovan, felt great sadness. She still lives with the shock of her loss."

She affirmed that Hero Bahadin, despite her departure, has become a shining light in her family's life, noting that the children constantly miss her for her distinctive personality and her constant care to make them happy and spend time playing with them. She added that her martyrdom left a deep impact on them, especially her sister Kovan, who still suffers from the trauma of her loss and lives with the pain of her absence to this day.

At their grave, the memory of all martyrs is recalled. Kilistan Tara's body was laid to rest, and Hero Bahadin was buried, while their friends, comrades, and families remain present at every station of the struggle path. This presence affirms that martyrs do not disappear, and that their comrades will continue to follow their path with steadfastness.