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August 23, 2024 – Iraq –
On 23 August 2024, a suspected Turkish drone strike in Said Sadiq, Sulaymaniyah province, Iraqi Kurdistan, tragically claimed the lives of two female journalists working for Chatr Multimedia Production Company, affiliated with Sterk TV. The victims—40-year-old Turkish reporter Gulistan Tara and 27-year-old Iraqi Kurdish video editor Hero Bahadin—were killed when their vehicle was struck while on assignment. A third journalist, Rebin Bakir, was seriously injured but is now in stable condition at a Sulaymaniyah hospital.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed deep sorrow over the incident, urging Turkish authorities to investigate swiftly and ascertain whether the media workers were specifically targeted for their reporting. Rebin Bakir sustained significant injuries, including broken legs and hands, but remains in stable condition after receiving medical treatment.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) echoed these concerns, deploring the killings and demanding a full and transparent investigation. They emphasized that Iraqi Kurdistan—where three media workers have lost their lives in less than two months—is becoming one of the world’s most perilous environments for journalists. Jonathan Dagher, head of RSF’s Middle East desk, called it “a shocking crime against media personnel” and underscored the responsibility of both Turkish and Kurdish authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
The Kurdistan Journalists Syndicate and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also condemned the attack, urging governments in both Iraq and Turkey to initiate immediate investigations, ensure accountability, and protect journalists operating in conflict zones.
The victims were non-combatant media professionals with no military affiliations. Chatr’s head, Kamal Hamaraza, stressed that they were purely journalists, disavowing claims that they were linked to the Kurdish militant group PKK. The Kurdish Regional Government’s Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani similarly affirmed that the strike targeted civilians, not insurgents.
This strike reflects a troubling escalation in the targeting of journalists in the region, particularly Kurdish media workers. Earlier in July, another Çira TV journalist was killed in a separate drone strike, highlighting a pattern of violence against frontline reporters. Advocacy groups warn that, without accountability and protections, the safety and freedom of the press in Iraqi Kurdistan face severe threats
Reference-
https://rsf.org/en/rsf-condemns-drone-strike-iraqi-kurdistan-killed-two-media-workers-wounded-third
