Message from YRA and YRJ to media institutions

The Free Media Union (YRA) and the Women’s Media Union (YRJ) released a joint statement regarding the attacks by mercenary groups affiliated with the Turkish occupying state on the region and their inhumane practices, as well as the media's stance on the ongoing events.

The statement, published on the Free Media Union’s website, included the following:

“In recent days, Syria and our regions are facing a dangerous situation. The Turkish state, which failed to execute its plans against the Syrian people through ISIS mercenaries, has once again acted in collaboration with mercenary groups comprising remnants of ISIS. They have launched a wide-scale attack on Aleppo. These mercenaries have committed massacres in several areas, repeating the scenario of ISIS’s emergence. These attacks have resulted in a dire humanitarian situation.

As a result, Afrin-Shahba Canton and the Sheikh Maqsoud and Ashrafiyeh neighborhoods in Aleppo have endured severe attacks. The Autonomous Administration, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), and Kongra Star have intervened to protect and safeguard civilians. Thousands of civilians have been evacuated from Afrin-Shahba to safe areas. It is clear that these attacks and vile schemes are hostile to all Syrians, particularly the Kurdish people.

In this current situation, we, the Free Media Union (YRA) and the Women’s Media Union (YRJ), representing hundreds of workers in free media, call on all journalists, workers, and media institutions committed to freedom and democracy to be the voice of truth. We urge them to expose the crimes and violations committed by the Turkish state and its mercenaries against humanity and share them with global public opinion.

In this context, we at the Free Media Union and Women’s Media Union, with our extensive network of on-ground journalists, are ready to assist all workers and media institutions in this endeavor.”

The statement also criticized the role played by certain media institutions, stating:

“On the other hand, some media institutions, including Rudaw TV, operate according to the special war policies targeting our people. They act under a patriarchal mindset, publish news that serves mercenaries, and have become a primary tool serving the Turkish state and its mercenaries. We strongly condemn this.”

In conclusion, the statement called on all journalists, media institutions, UN organizations, and human rights organizations to break their silence regarding the policies of the Turkish state and its mercenaries in light of Syria’s dangerous situation and to take a clear stance.

A-H

ANHA