Turkey continues targeting journalists amidst lack of international intervention

ZALIN, North and East Syria — In protest against Turkey’s ongoing attacks on journalists, the Free Media Union (Yekîtiya Ragihandina Azad, YRA), the Women’s Media Union (Yekîtiya Ragihandina Jin, YRJ), and the Human Rights Organization in Syria (MAF) organized a demonstration outside the UN Committee headquarters in Zalin (Qamishli), North and East Syria. The protest came in response to the recent murder of journalist Egîd Roj in drone strike near the Tishrin Dam.

Originally from Cafrin (Afrin), Roj was displaced by Turkey’s 2018 invasion and subsequent occupation. Following his displacement, Roj began work as a journalist, particularly focused on human rights violations.

Dozens of journalists, human rights activists, and legal professionals attended the demonstration, holding signs in English with messages such as: “Turkey must immediately implement Resolution 68/168,” “Freedom of expression is a right for all,” and “Turkey fears the truth journalists expose.” Protesters also displayed photos of journalists who have been deliberately targeted by the Turkish state and its affiliated militias.

Growing Crisis for Press Freedom

Arin Sweid, spokesperson for the YRJ, delivered a statement highlighting that attacks on journalists in the Middle East have become a significant threat to press freedom. She warned that impunity for such crimes emboldens further violations, aiming to silence truth-tellers and obscure serious human rights abuses.

“In North and East Syria alone, we have witnessed numerous direct attacks on journalists simply for performing their work,” Sweid said. “Many have faced threats, coercion, and intimidation, all designed to suppress coverage of ongoing events in the region and stifle independent reporting.”

Syriac Media Institutions Speak Out

Several Syriac media institutions joined the protest, emphasizing their opposition to Turkey’s actions. “As Syriac media outlets — including Suroyo TV, Suroyo FM, and SyriacPress — we stand here today to condemn Turkey’s ongoing attacks against journalists who are simply doing their job,” stated Rania Malki, an executive at Suroyo TV. “These actions violate fundamental human rights and undermine press freedom worldwide.”

Aven Sheikhmus, a correspondent for Channel 8, echoed these concerns, drawing attention to the persistent pattern of violence against journalists.

“Since Turkey’s incursion into North and East Syria, media organizations and the Free Media Union have meticulously documented Turkish military violations,” Sheikhmus said. “To date, 31 journalists have been killed due to direct targeting — 17 of them in Turkish airstrikes. The most recent attack at Tishrin Dam claimed the lives of three journalists and injured nine others. Such blatant violations contradict international standards that should protect the press.”

Plea to United Nations

Following the demonstration, representatives from the YRA, the YRJ, and the MAF submitted a letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which read:

“Between December 19, 2024, and January 15, 2025, three journalists were killed in Turkish drone strikes, while nine others sustained injuries of varying severity. Additionally, some journalists received direct death threats on social media from Turkish authorities. These actions constitute a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and human rights, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (1998), such crimes qualify as war crimes and crimes against humanity. Yet, these violations persist while the international community remains silent.”

The letter called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor to act under the Rome Statute and international legal principles by launching an immediate investigation into Turkey’s violations, specifically those targeting journalists in Northeast Syria.

Record of Attacks

Human rights and media organizations report that 31 journalists have been killed in direct attacks since 2014, with 17 of these deaths resulting from Turkish strikes. The most recent attack on Tishrin Dam claimed the lives of three journalists and left nine others injured.

These alarming statistics place the international community under both a legal and moral obligation to hold Turkey accountable for its crimes against the press. Concrete steps must be taken to protect journalists and uphold press freedom in North and East Syria.