YRJ: Kurdish women’s press asserts presence, documents history

The YRJ commemorated martyred journalist Gharibtli Arsuz, as well as martyred journalists Delîşan Îbêş and Dılovan Kefer, along with all women journalists who lost their lives in the pursuit of free media. It also praised the efforts of women journalists and media workers who continue their work in the footsteps of their fallen colleagues.

The YRJ made the remarks in a statement issued Tuesday on Kurdish Women’s Press Day, observed annually on October 7, and on the anniversary of the death of journalist Gharibtli Arsuz.

The statement said the occasion is an opportunity to remember the careers of Kurdish women journalists and media workers who chose words, the pen, and the camera as tools to convey the truth, document the realities of their communities, and bring women’s voices and issues to the public, despite the circumstances, challenges, and difficulties they faced.

It said the commemoration of this day is rooted in profound sacrifices, foremost among them that of Gharibtli Arsuz, who was martyred in Southern Kurdistan on October 7, 1997. The YRJ noted that she dedicated her pen to journalism and documentation.

The YRJ also recalled the careers of Delîşan Îbêş, who was martyred on October 12, 2017, and Dılovan Kefer, who was martyred on October 13, 2019. Both documented the violations and crimes committed by ISIS mercenaries against society and women. The union also honored the memory of all male and female journalists and media workers who lost their lives during their professional careers.

The statement stressed that journalism has never been merely a profession for Kurdish women, but has served as a space to assert their presence, document history, and bring women’s voices and issues to society and the world. It added that through words and images, women journalists and media workers have helped break the walls of silence, preserve collective memory, and pass events and realities on to future generations.

The YRJ stressed that Kurdish Women’s Press Day is not limited to celebrating this legacy, but is also an occasion to remember the sacrifices of women journalists and media workers, recognize their role in the history of journalism, and reaffirm the need to continue journalistic work with responsibility and professionalism.

In its statement, the YRJ renewed its commitment to continuing media work, developing women’s skills in journalism and media, and establishing professional journalism that places truth and responsibility at the heart of its mission, gives women’s issues the space they deserve, contributes to documenting events, and preserves collective memory.

It noted that women continue to play an active role in the media today through the pen, camera, and voice, documenting the realities of their communities and conveying women’s concerns and aspirations. The YRJ stressed that the responsibility of the media is not limited to reporting events, but also includes documenting them professionally, highlighting women’s roles and achievements, shedding light on their issues, and defending their right to express themselves and participate fully in public life.

On the anniversary of Gharibtli Arsuz’s death, the YRJ recalled her as a journalist who devoted her pen to writing and documentation, along with the names of women journalists and media workers who contributed to the development of Kurdish journalism and faced difficult circumstances with determination to convey the truth and women’s voices.

The statement stressed that preserving the memory of women journalists and women who contributed to shaping the history of the media is a responsibility toward future generations. It said that what is documented today becomes part of tomorrow’s collective memory, while the experiences and sacrifices of these women remain a testament to their presence in the history of journalism and media.

At the end of the statement, the Union saluted every woman journalist and media worker who chose words as a means of expression and documentation, and every woman who believed in the importance of conveying the truth and making women’s voices heard.

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ANHA