Turkey and the paramilitary group Syrian National Army (SNA), which is controlled by Turkey, continue their attacks on North and East Syria. Journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were following the attacks on Qaraqozak and Tishreen Dam, where killed by a Turkey's UCAV attack on December 19 on the road between Tishreen Dam and Sirîn Town.

 

The killing of Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin was protested in many cities. As part of these protests, 9 people, including 7 journalists, who wanted to make a statement in Istanbul on December 21, were arrested.

 

Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) Istanbul Provincial Co-Chair Gonca Yangöz, Peoples' Democratic Congress (HDK) Istanbul Provincial Co-Spokesperson Ali Bal and Democratic Regions Party (DBP) Marmara Co-Spokesperson Çiçek Ariç made evaluations on the press crackdown and the murder of journalists. 

 

'WE NEED TO BREAK THE CHAINS OF FEAR'

 

Gonca Yangöz stated that the massacres will not discrourage the Free Press workers. Bilgin and Daştan made the world aware of the real face of the governemnt's special war policies in North and East Syria said Gonca Yangöz and added: "In such cases, political parties and non-governmental organizations that want to reach the right news weave a common struggle and oppose the attacks. What they are most afraid of is our growing common line of struggle and raising a common voice against the massacre of peoples. They are also detaining politicians and journalists who say that this pen 'will not fall to the ground'. The murder of journalists is a policy to intimidate the Free Press. The government wants to create a climate of fear through oppression. The chains of fear must be broken. No journalist should remain silent about the murder of Nazım and Cihan. Break the chains of this fear."

 

'TARGETED FOR PROVIDING ACCURATE INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC' 

 

Çiçek Ariç stated that they received the developments in North and East Syria from journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin and noted that many journalists have lost their lives in the wars and conflicts in the Middle East. Çiçek Ariç said: “They themselves stated that they were targets. At a time when black propaganda was being made against Kurds, two journalists were targeted for informing the public correctly. I haven't heard much about this incident in the Turkish press. Two of their colleagues were killed. It was not on the agenda. Today, if a country does not protect its journalists, it is called rottenness. Does it mean that if someone doesn't think like me, they deserve to die?”  

 

Çiçek Ariç said that it is unacceptable that journalists who protested the targeted murder of journalists were detained with pressure and violence and then 9 journalists were arrested. “The pressure on journalists reveals the point that freedom of the press and freedom of expression has reached in Turkey. Cihan's mother had a statement, 'Cihan is a well-educated, self-developed and strong woman and she said she could do any job here. But she chose the difficult one'. I think all public opinion should listen to the mother.”  

 

'PUBLIC OPINION IS SILENT'

 

Ali Bal stated that in oppressive regimes, journalists are targeted first in order to prevent real information from reaching the people and reminded that Kobanê has also been targeted for a long time. “Turkey has been attacking Rojava and Kobanê under the pretext of border security. The Kurds' struggle to demand their rights continues. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the recent period, especially in air strikes. Journalists had announced the civilian deaths to Turkey and the world public opinion. With Devlet Bahçeli's recent statement, the perception was created in the country as if a new process would be initiated. But we are facing the exact opposite of this" said Bal and added: "There is a silence in the world public opinion about the murdered journalists. The reason behind this lack of reaction is Turkey's trade relations with Europe and other imperial countries."