Elfazi Toral 

 

ISTANBUL - Journalist Nezahat Doğan reacted to the raid and closure of institutions belonging to the Kurdish Women's Movement and the production company that produces content for JIN TV by public order forces in Silêmanî and said, "The aim is to target the will of women and the gains of Rojava. Women journalists will not be silent; the truth will not remain in the dark."

 

In Silêmanî city of Southern Kurdistan, raids were carried out by public order units against various institutions on 31 December. Within the scope of these raids, the media production company Kompanya Gizîngê Berbeyan was raided, its activities were stopped and the organisation was closed down. In the morning hours of the same day, operations against women's rights defender organisations drew attention. The centres of Niwêger Organisation and Merziye Organisation of Rêxirawên Jinên Azadixwaz ên Kurdistan (RJAK) were also targeted and raided, after which the activities of these centres were terminated.

 

These developments drew reactions from many quarters, particularly from journalists and civil society organisations. Journalist Nezahat Doğan commented on the targeting of women journalists and women's organisations in particular.

 

‘Gains are again in the target’

 

 Reacting to these raids and closures, journalist Nezahat Doğan said, "The company was shut down on 31 December, the last day of the year, with the cooperation of the security forces and the Iraqi central government, the Kurdistan Regional Government and regional security institutions." Pointing out that the company was closed down without any official notification or legal report, Nezahat Doğan emphasised the ill-treatment of the production staff during the closure. Nezahat Doğan said, "The employees were taken out without any justification and told, ’You cannot do business here anymore. Who has a hand in this? This is intimidation, intimidation and obfuscation of the truth. The closure of a production company that has been operating in the region for seven years, an institution that operates as the voice and colour of women, shows that women and their achievements are once again targeted."

 

‘This struggle cannot be interrupted’

 

Drawing attention to the purpose of these attacks and raids, journalist Nezahat Doğan said, "The aim is to disrupt this rising will by targeting Rojava gains, women's will and women journalists.’ Stating that targeting JIN TV means targeting the women's struggle, Nezahat Doğan said: ‘The wars of conflict and violence waged by the sovereigns primarily target women, children and civilians. At the forefront of this target are organisations, press organs and journalists who carry out women's struggle. Because the understanding of publishing that pursues the truth and shows the invisible becomes the target of systems and states. In a place where the philosophy of ‘Jin, Jiyan, Azadî’ rises in the world, the will of women cannot be broken. In a place where the common language is being a woman, the only goal, regardless of language, religion or race, is the liberation of women and the struggle to create a free society. This struggle cannot be interrupted.

 

‘Journalists always see the truth’

 

Women journalists do not remain silent; their pens write, they are not afraid and their eyes always see the truth. Women continue to struggle in all areas of life against the system that wants to imprison women in the darkness of Afghanistan and imposes the medieval mentality. Wherever and wherever they are against the system, women know how to fight together and stand together without ifs and buts. The strongest response to this oppression and violence is to stand side by side, raise our voices and become stronger together."

 

‘We condemn the attack and raise our voices’

 

Journalist Nezahat Doğan stated that the Free Press and the Kurdish press are targeted because they reflect the facts and the truth in their frames, and concluded her speech with the following words: "No matter how much the Free Press is targeted, it also has the will to resist and protect its honourable profession. The truth will not remain in the dark and will be deciphered. We condemn this attack and raise our voice more strongly."