Gulan Botan/JINHA

QAMİŞLO - The first Kurdish Newspaper Kurdistan printed in April 22, 1898 in Cairo, Egypt. Thus, 22 April is marked as the anniversary of Kurdish Journalism. As Kurdish journalists are in the front line by giving high price, female journalists those who bear witness to “Women's Revolution” in Rojava, tell the meaning of this day for themselves.

The first Kurdish Newspaper Kurdistan was published in April 22, 1898 in Cairo,
Egypt by Mikdad Midhad Badirhan. The 6th- 19th issues of the newspaper were printed in Geneva, the 20th-23rd in London and the 24th – 29th issues in Folkestone. “Kurdistan” was printed 31st issues nonstop. 22 April is celebrated as “Kurdish Journalists Day”. Female journalists in Rojava spoke to our agency with the occasion of “Kurdish Journalists Day”.

Sterk Gulo is one of the female journalists who play a part in the development of female journalism in Rojava. Sterk said, “As women, we have organized ourselves by laying claim to our press history. The first press began their movement in Rojava with the magazine “Voice of Life”. It was published in Kurdish and Arabic. Baas Regime didn’t allow freedom of expression in Rojava. It didn’t allow women to work in press. However, the women continued to publish the magazine despite all the shortcomings and difficulties. Of course, we had a press history in Kurdistan before. Şîlan Bakî is an example of female journalists. She was a journalist and revolutionist.”

Sterk stated that Kurdish female journalists have tried to report what the people have experienced in Rojava. She said, “Women pioneer the journalism in Rojava like they do in the revolution of Rojava. We organized our first conference on April 30, 2013. Women become the symbol of resistance with their labor, resistance and leadership. Rojava Revolution is women’s revolution. Women journalists will continue to be voice of the people at the cost of their life.”

Hevîdar Xalidi is another female journalist. She said, “We lay claim to our labor by knowing more our history. The written press continued to work in secretly before us. The people resisted here and someone had to write about them for that reason, women organized themselves in the press. Many of our female friends sacrificed their life to share with the public the image they took. Many women wounded many times amid the clashes while they tried to report the news. We revolutionized in revolution and we’ll continue to revolutionize.”

(dkj/gd)