YRJ pledges to continue legacy of journalists Gulistan, Hêro, martyr Najmuddin

The YRJ published a written statement on its official Facebook page Saturday, marking the anniversaries of the martyrdom of journalists Gulistan Tara and Hêro Baha al-Din and martyr Najmuddin Sinan.

The YRJ commemorated Gulistan Tara and Hêro Baha al-Din, who were martyred on August 23, 2024, when a Turkish state drone targeted the vehicle they were traveling in in the Said Sadiq district of Sulaymaniyah province in the Kurdistan Region.

The Union said the two martyrs chose to be at the heart of events, reporting what was happening to the world and giving a voice to people who had long been denied a platform to express their issues and discuss their future.

The statement said Gulistan Tara and Hêro Baha al-Din believed that women’s issues went beyond being a media topic and were linked to social and political transformation and women’s right to participate in decision-making. Guided by this belief, they carried cameras and pens, documented the reality and struggles of women, and helped bring their voices to wider audiences.

The YRJ also commemorated colleague Najmuddin Sinan, who was martyred on August 23, 2023, when his vehicle was targeted while he was carrying out his work, and journalist Dalila Aqid, who was seriously wounded in the same attack on the Qamishlo-Amuda road. The two were working for JIN TV at the time.

The YRJ said the targeting of the JIN TV crew and the martyrdom of Gulistan Tara and Hêro Baha al-Din reflect the scale of risks faced by journalists while carrying out their work, stressing that free media remains a target of forces seeking to silence free voices and obscure the truth.

The YRJ renewed its pledge to keep the legacy of the martyrs alive through its work and to continue carrying the camera, pen and voice, in fulfillment of the mission they believed in and sacrificed their lives for.

The YRJ said the memory of Gulistan Tara, Hêro Baha al-Din and Najmuddin Sinan would remain part of the media’s collective memory, and that their sacrifices would continue to inspire journalists to carry on their work despite the challenges.

The Union concluded its statement by reaffirming its commitment to reporting the truth, amplifying women’s voices, documenting their journey and struggles, and continuing to uphold the mission of free media with greater determination and responsibility in honor of their memory. 

A-H

ANHA