Statement of YRJ on Kurdish Press Day

The YRJ issued a public statement commemorating Kurdish Press Day, observed annually on April 22nd since 1898. The statement highlighted the historical significance of this day and the responsibilities it places upon us to safeguard the gains achieved through immense sacrifices:

"Each year, as the 22nd of April dawns, Kurdish journalists—alongside all defenders of truth and freedom of expression—stand in solemn tribute to this enduring day in the collective memory of existential, cultural, and national struggle: Kurdish Press Day. It marks the birth of the first Kurdish newspaper, Kurdistan, published in 1898—a flame ignited by Miqdad Madhat Bedir Khan to serve as an indomitable voice and a platform against oppression and marginalization.

The publication of Kurdistan in exile was not merely a journalistic endeavor; it was a revolutionary act—an affirmation of a people's cause, whose heritage, culture, and language have long been subject to erasure by authoritarian regimes intent on stifling truth.

In the face of adversity, Kurdish journalism has persevered, its light growing stronger with the emergence of the Kurdish Freedom Movement, which undertook the responsibility of building a free press rooted in the philosophy of a free society—one that sincerely represents the people's grievances and aspirations.

From behind prison walls, the voice of truth rang out in 1982 through the pioneering efforts of Mazloum Doğan, founder of the free press, affirming free media as a cornerstone of the struggle for existence, freedom, and justice.

Alongside figures such as Mazloum Doğan and Gurbetelli Ersöz, the founding of Free Women's Media in Kurdistan (RAJIN) marked a milestone in the advancement of Kurdish journalism, embedding within it a deeply rooted tradition of resistance.

Gurbetelli Ersöz was the first Kurdish woman to serve as editor-in-chief in Northern Kurdistan and Turkey, proving that journalism is not merely a profession—it is a stance, a mission, and a form of defiance.

Kurdish women have long been a foundational force in the Kurdish media landscape. Armed with pen and camera, they have courageously brought women’s issues to the forefront, amplifying their voices across every platform.

In North and East Syria, women have taken center stage in the media through the establishment of the Women’s Media Union (YRJ), offering field coverage and firsthand testimonies with boldness and integrity—shining a light on the path to freedom. We proudly remember the names of Dîlşan Îbîş, Cîhan Belkîn, Êlûl Nohilat, Dilovan Kafra, Meryem Mihemed (Akri Yılmaz), Ehîn Fayeq Îbrahîm (Arîn Cûdî), and Rîm Xişman from Rojava Afrin—names forever etched in the chronicles of media resistance.

We, at the Women’s Media Union, honor this day with deep respect and renew our vow to all who struggled for the freedom of expression and stood in defiance of darkness and censorship.

We salute those who have transformed journalism into an instrument of liberation.

We shall not remain silent in the face of injustice. We shall continue to write, to film, to expose, and to dream—until the light prevails over darkness.

Glory and eternal honor to our free journalists.

Freedom for Kurdish journalism. And freedom for all peoples who yearn for liberty, peace, dignity, and justice."

a.k

ANHA