Earlier today, an UCAV of the occupying Turkish state targeted a vehicle belonging to the media company Chatr Production carrying Kurdish journalists in the Seyidsadık district of Sulaymaniyah earlier today. Journalist Hêro Bahadîn and Gulistan Tara were martyred in the attack, while Chatr Production Supervisor Rêbîn Bekir (30) was wounded.

Karwan Enwer, the head of the Kurdistan Region Journalists’ Syndicate Sulaymaniyah Branch, made a press statement strongly condemning the attack on journalists by the occupying Turkish state and said:  “According to international law, journalists should be kept away from all conflicts and should not be targeted even if they are in a war zone. We will take today’s attack to all international organisations and federations.”

Karwan Enwer stated: “We hope that this attack will be the last disaster for journalists. Journalists are not armed. But we must react against these attacks so that journalists do not fall victim to the problems in the region again.”

Rahman Garib, Director of the Metro Centre for the Protection of Journalists’ Rights, said:

“The reason for the ongoing attacks and occupation by the Turkish state is the silence of the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region governments. As is known, the Turkish state has advanced some 50 kilometres into the Kurdistan Region and is targeting civilians on a daily basis.”

Rahman Garib stressed that the silence and unresponsiveness of the Iraqi and Kurdistan Region governments are primarily responsible for the Turkish state’s occupation and ongoing attacks against the people and journalists.