DİYARBAKIR – Stating that Kurdish journalism is the breath of Kurdistan, DTK noted that the Kurdish journalism adventure was carried forward by paying a great price for the Kurdish nation.

 

The Democratic Society Congress (DTK) issued a message titled “Kurdish journalism is the breath of Kurdistan” for the 122th year of the Kurdish press. Reminding that the first Kurdish newspaper was published in Cairo on April 22, 1898 with the labor of the Mikdat and Abdurrahman brothers and published a total of 31 issues until 1902, DTK said: "The Kurdistan newspaper was banned by Ottoman state after publishing the first issue. The newspaper than was published in European cities like London and Geneva. The newspaper  which had nearly 2000 editions, was distributed secretly in Kurdistan. In addition to banning the newspaper, the Ottoman state was also punishing those who read it. Kurdish Journalism Day was declared on 22 April 1973 in Başûr Kurdistan on April 22, the date when the Kurdistan Newspaper started its publication, and it is celebrated every year."

 

FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION

 

The message commemorating Abdurrahman Bedirxan and Apé Musa and all those who contributed to this struggle and slaughtered by fascist regimes, said: "On this occasion, we are greeting all journalists who are still in prison and did not compromise their journalism principles in all four parts of Kurdistan and remind one more time that we stand with them and that they are not alone. Our call to the governments that imprison Kurdish journalists and all other journalists for that matter, is to release them now. Locking up journalists that bring us the most important freedom of our age, means they are violating the freedom of communication.

 

'GREAT PRICES HAVE BEEN PAID'

 

The point where the women in journalism came is admirable. We are very proud of this. Kurdish Journalism, which is one of the basic parameters of our national union, is an objective area that should be enlarged and expanded within the framework of contemporary technology and communication, press and publication ethics. Our call to all our people is to claim their own newspapers and journalists under all circumstances and to be in solidarity with them."