Female journalists who became voice of Kurdish struggle

 The history of the Kurdish people has witnessed pivotal stages of struggle that have shaped their journey. Kurdish journalism has withstood policies of repression and attempts at erasure, continuing to fulfill its role despite the challenges, becoming a platform for expressing the issues of the Kurdish people to this day. Kurdish women journalists have also emerged as a powerful voice for women and society, contributing to paving the way for women's struggle and strengthening their presence.

Following the Treaty of Lausanne (June 24, 1923), which divided Kurdistan into four nation-states—Turkish, Arab, and Persian (Iraq, Iran, Turkey, and Syria)—policies of physical and social annihilation were implemented in each of these regions. Kurdish culture and language were also among the targets of this genocide.

On the occasion of Kurdish Press Day, which falls on April 22nd each year, we highlight the prominent role of Kurdish women journalists who have contributed to amplifying the voice of their people and defending their cause.

the Journey Began with Hawar Magazine

Among five magazines, Hawar (May 15, 1932-1943) stood out as the voice of the Kurdish people and a national expression of their identity. Although Kurdish publications existed before it, it was the first to be published in Latin script. The Kurdish woman Roshan Badirkhan participated in this struggle for the Kurdish language and literature. Along with her husband, she oversaw most of Hawar's operations, handling administrative tasks, column writing, and editing, thus paving a long and significant path for the Kurdish people in the birth of their language and literature.

The Voice of the NÛJEN Movement

The most important and influential step in Kurdish history was the founding of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) on November 27, 1978. A new era began in Kurdistan with the PKK. After the collapse of localized uprisings based on families, tribes, and the poor, the party emerged as a national movement addressing all four parts of Kurdistan. The party placed great importance on media activity and established a publishing house in its early years.

Sakine Cansız was one of the founding women of the PKK and a pioneer of the women's liberation movement. As a member of the party, she promoted the idea of ​​women's freedom and the freedom of the Kurdish people. Sakine Cansız demonstrated unwavering resistance within the Diyarbakır prison, and even under the harshest torture conditions, she published the magazine "Hawar" for her comrade Mazlum Doğan, conveying the voice of the resistance to the people.

The Journalist who exposed the dark massacres

As the Kurdish people's struggle, led by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), spread from Northern Kurdistan to all of Kurdistan, the Turkish state, in an attempt to prevent this, began burning villages, forcibly disappearing Kurds, and banning the name "Kurd" between 1985 and 1995.

During this period, these acts were documented, and the genocide was exposed under the leadership of journalists like Gürbet Ali Arsöz. Gürbet Ali Arsöz began her journalistic career in 1990 with the magazine "Hadaf" and was arrested on December 10, 1990, while working there. She was tortured for 15 days and imprisoned in Malatya Prison for two years.

After her release, she resumed her journalistic career and became the editor-in-chief of the newspaper "Özgur Gundemê," published in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey. Gürbet worked in journalism and trained dozens of young Kurdish men and women. Gürbet did not find enough in journalistic struggle, so she joined the ranks of the fighters in 1995. She was martyred in the Kurdistan Region of South Kurdistan on October 7, 1997.

Women's voices against ISIS

The fight against ISIS mercenaries is one of the most important operations in the Kurdish people's struggle. In 2014, ISIS mercenaries, with the support of some international powers and the Turkish state, attempted to commit massacres throughout Kurdistan.

The genocidal attacks began in Shengal, Makhmour, and Rojava. Journalists Deniz Firat, Nujiyan Erhan, and Delishan Ibiş bravely and selflessly went to the front lines to show the world the brutality of ISIS mercenaries and the resistance of the Kurdish people.

When ISIS mercenaries attempted to invade Southern Kurdistan in 2014, Deniz Firat provided information from the front lines, exposing plots against the Kurds, and remained steadfast in her support of the resistance until her last breath (August 8, 2014). Meanwhile, Nujiyan Erhan covered the attempted 74th genocide against the Yazidis and their women in Shengal, and documented the resistance there.

Both Deniz and Nujiyan were working to pave the way for free media in those regions. Nujiyan was martyred in Sinjar on March 3, 2017, while performing her duty. Similarly, Delishan Ibish was documenting the liberation of women from ISIS mercenaries in Rojava, Kurdistan, and witnessed unprecedented resistance. She was martyred on October 12, 2017, in Deir ez-Zor while covering the liberation of the people.

She confronted the lies and said: We are here.

In 2024, the conspiracies against the Kurdish people in Rojava reached their peak. The occupying Turkish state and its mercenaries launched an attack on the Rojava Revolution. Battles raged in Manbij and at the Tishrin Dam. The Turkish state attacked the people of Rojava with its mercenaries, spread false news, and used tanks, artillery, and aircraft.

In response, Jihan Bilken (who worked for our agency, Hawar) and her colleague Nazim Dashtan went to the Tishrin Dam. At the dam, Jihan Balkin declared, "We are here," exposing the falsehood of the Turkish state's claims. Thanks to her dedicated work, people flocked to the dam, the Kurdish people and their allies rose up, and the resistance against the Tishrin Dam gained strength and ultimately triumphed.

Our correspondent, Jihan Balkin, and journalist Nazim Dashtan were martyred while performing their journalistic duties when their vehicle was targeted by a Turkish drone on December 19, 2024, on the road between the Tishrin Dam and the town of Sirrin.

These women have been a source of inspiration, leadership, and courage for thousands of female journalists. Today, female journalists throughout Kurdistan and around the world continue their journalistic journey, following in their footsteps.

ANHA