February 08, 2025 – Turkey/Iraq –
Veteran Kurdish journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu was killed on January 27, 2025, in a targeted Turkish drone strike in the Ranya district of Sulaymaniyah province, part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Union of Democratic Press of Kurdistan (YRD) confirmed his death, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to silence his critical reporting on Turkish state policies towards the Kurdish population.
Born in 1976 in Diyarbakır (Amed), Turkey, Köylüoğlu began his journalistic career in the early 2000s. He worked across various media platforms, including RojNews, ANHA, and Ronahi TV, covering regions such as the Kurdistan Region of Iraq and Rojava in Syria. His reporting often focused on issues related to Kurdish rights and the activities of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), which Turkey, the U.S., and the EU classify as a terrorist organization.
In response to his death, Kurdish journalist organizations, including the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG), and the Free Press Union (YRA), condemned the targeted killing. They emphasized Köylüoğlu’s unwavering commitment to truth and press freedom, vowing to continue his work and uphold the values he championed.
Köylüoğlu’s death highlights the ongoing risks faced by journalists in conflict zones, particularly those reporting on sensitive political issues. His legacy serves as a reminder of the importance of press freedom and the need to protect journalists who work to expose injustice and promote accountability.
