ÊLIH – Dicle Erdem, sister of slain journalist Gülistan Tara, said: “Gülistan’s successors will never give up on her cause, her struggle, or the truths she stood for.”
On August 23, 2024, journalists Hêro Bahadîn and Gülistan Tara were killed in a targeted attack by Turkey in the Seyîdsadiq district of Sulaymaniyah, in the Kurdistan Region. A year has passed since the attack, which drew condemnation from international press organizations, but no legal action has been taken against Turkey.
A LIFE DEDICATED TO FREEDOM
Born on January 24, 1983, in Êlih (Batman), Gülistan Tara was the eighth of ten children. She dedicated much of her life to the Kurdish freedom struggle. At the age of 13–14, she began to explore her identity, focusing on her Kurdish and woman identity. Deeply influenced by Abdullah Öcalan’s arrest on February 15, 1999, she joined the Free Press movement on May 25 of that year.
Remembered for her gentle and compassionate nature, Gülistan is now seen as a symbol of the Free Press resistance. Her older sister, Dicle Erdem, shared memories of her on the first anniversary of her death.
‘HER FIRST REBELLION WAS AT HOME’
Erdem explained that Gülistan's first form of resistance began within the family. “She always insisted on preserving her identity, even in discussions with our older brothers. She found her path during high school and never looked back,” Erdem said. “As women and as Kurds in Kurdistan, we lived through oppression. This reality shaped Gülistan’s path.”
MEMORIES OF CHILDHOOD AND EXILE
Erdem recalled a joyful childhood in a garden home, despite later hardships: “We were exiled to Eskişehir when we were just 11 or 12. My father’s exile and our sister’s imprisonment made things worse. Maybe that’s when Gülistan first began questioning life and the system.”
Although the two sisters rarely saw each other in later years, Dicle described their phone calls as “full of longing.” She continued: “She believed in her cause. Despite the pain and longing, her values gave her strength. The media is the most visible part of this struggle. Gülistan knew this and stood tall.”
‘THEY WERE TARGETED FOR TELLING THE TRUTH’
Erdem believes Gülistan and her colleagues were targeted for reporting on the truth in conflict zones like Kobanê and Şengal. “There’s a clear targeting of women journalists because of their role in revealing the truth. They told the world about the Êzidî women and witnessed the Kobanê resistance. Gülistan’s successors will not abandon this mission. They left behind a powerful legacy.”
She concluded: “Their pens and cameras became weapons of truth. As family and comrades, we will always defend Gülistan’s cause. Her name, alongside Hêro’s, will live on.”
MA / Ozan Bayındır