YRA and YRJ: Turkish attacks won't silence us

The Free Media Union, the Women’s Media Union, and the Human Rights Organization in Syria organized a protest to denounce the targeting of journalists by the Turkish occupation state, the latest of which was the targeting of journalist Akid Roj in the Tishrin Dam area. The protest was held in front of the United Nations Commission headquarters in the As-Siyahi Neighborhood of Qamishlo.

Dozens of journalists, human rights activists, and legal professionals participated in the protest, raising banners in English that read: "Turkey must immediately implement Resolution 68/168," "Freedom of expression is everyone's right," and "Turkey fears the truth documented by journalists." Protesters also carried pictures of fellow journalists who were deliberately targeted by the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries.

Arin Sweid, spokesperson for the Women’s Media Union, confirmed that the Turkish occupation state and its mercenaries deliberately targeted journalists, with the latest victim being journalist Akid Roj, who was attacked at Tishrin Dam. She explained that journalists had gone to the dam to report the truth, but Turkey's dirty policies aim to silence them. She stated, "Turkish attacks will not silence our voice."

Sweid further emphasized, "Through this protest, we wanted to express our stance against these attacks on journalists and denounce them. We affirm that despite these attacks, they will not be able to silence us. Free journalism has never been and will never be silenced."

Meanwhile, Avin Jumaa, an official at the Human Rights Organization in the Jazera Canton, stated that the crimes committed today against journalists and journalism in the Middle East have become a crisis threatening press freedom and freedom of expression. She pointed out that impunity for such crimes, especially war crimes, encourages further violations aimed at silencing the truth and covering up serious human rights abuses and war crimes, all within the framework of international and humanitarian law and human rights law.

Jumaa added, "We are here now to denounce these attacks and call for an end to them in accordance with international agreements and laws. We also demand an end to impunity and the initiation of trials before international courts for all perpetrators of these war crimes."

Since 2014, 31 journalists have martyred due to direct targeting, with 17 of them martyred in Turkish occupation state attacks. Recently, three journalists were targeted in the Tishrin Dam area, and nine others were injured.

After the speeches, the Free Media Union, the Women’s Media Union, and the Human Rights Organization delivered a letter to the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.

The letter stated: "Between December 19, 2024, and February 15, 2025, three journalists lost their lives due to targeted drone strikes, while nine others were injured to varying degrees. Additionally, the Turkish state directly threatened some journalists with death through virtual communication platforms.

What Turkey is committing constitutes severe violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention. These acts qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity, fully meeting the legal criteria outlined in the 1998 Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. However, these crimes are happening in plain sight of the international community, which remains silent.

Therefore, we call upon the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to fulfill his duties under the Rome Statute and the court’s ethical framework by launching an immediate investigation into the totality of crimes committed by Turkey in North and East Syria, especially those against journalists."

A-H

ANHA