SUHAM AKMAN

News Center- Hicran Urun, the editor of the Yeni Yaşam newspaper’s women's supplement, who strives to be the voice of citizens of any religious, ethnic groups and particularly women, answered the questions of NuJINHA.

Women work in the whole production process of the Yeni Yaşam Newspaper as editors, news directors, reporters, camerawomen, photographers, and even as distributors. The number of female employees is more than male employees. In this interview, you can find the trials and oppression faced by them and their experiences and comments on the agenda of Turkey.

“Kurdish press is targeted by the government”

While you have left behind your first year as the women's supplement of the Yeni Yaşam Newspaper, journalism has been going through its most difficult years in Turkey. Your newspaper is one of the press outlets that have faced oppression the most. Some of your editors-in-chief and employees have been facing legal harassment. What are your thoughts on this period?

Yes, the voices of the opposition have faced the policy of increasing pressure and intimidation particularly after 2013 in Turkey. The opposition press, of course, is the segment most affected by these policies. But the Kurdish press has faced such policies for dozens of years. The history of the oppression against the Kurds and therefore the Kurdish press goes back much further. In the 1990s, many Kurdish reporters and press employees were killed and arrested; many Kurdish press outlets were closed down or their buildings were bombed. Kurdish journalists still face such policies. In the past, these policies were carried out against the Kurdish press but today they have been carried out against all opponents in Turkey. Today, many more press outlets have been closed down; journalists have faced legal harassment and arrests.

The role of the free press becomes the most important role, especially in such an environment. Speaking out and reporting the truth is much more important under pressure. Because making the voices of Kurds, citizens of any religious, ethnic groups and particularly women being heard is also a stand against these oppressions. I say particularly the voices of women because when a state increases its violence, women face both the violence of the state and male violence.

There is a government in Turkey that can survive and get power through chaos and war. The government fuels racism and misogyny. It sees media as the most important means to impose these on society. Therefore, journalists pose danger to its policies because they reveal the truth. For this reason, the opposition press and the Kurdish press are perhaps the primary targets of the government.

Two main policies: Racism and misogyny

Why are you targeted? What are the differences between you and other press outlets?

As I mentioned before, we are on the target because we expose the policies of the government and because we don’t report what they want. The Kurdish question is one of Turkey's most important problems. It is the main reason for the ongoing chaos, oppression, and economic crises in Turkey. The ruling party has two main policies now: Racism and misogyny. The Kurdish press stands against these policies. It does not only expose these policies but also stands by these people and tries to be their voice. For this reason, we are targeted.

“I cannot remember the number of cases opened against our newspaper”

Does the political atmosphere in Turkey affect you? Do the editors of Yeni Yaşam Newspaper think twice about what they should report in order to protect themselves?

Of course, it affects. Our newspapers are shut down; our colleagues are arrested and jailed. Now, I cannot remember the number of cases opened against our newspaper because there are many. But in such periods, standing firm is important because people need to learn the truth. We sometimes discuss the titles or photographs but we keep reporting.

Why do journalists face terror-linked trials?

Almost all of our employees, including editors, reporters, and even distributors, have been detained. Almost all of us have faced terror-linked trials. Some of our colleagues are still behind bars. The indictments prepared against us contain our news articles but we face terror-linked trials.

A newspaper making the voice of women visible…

The struggle of women in the Middle East attracts the attention of the whole world. You also report about them. Can women in Turkey see the resistance and struggle of women in the Middle East?

Women of the Middle East have struggled for centuries but they have become visible in recent years. Today, the women’s struggle in the Middle Eastern countries such as Tunisia and Egypt is more visible. Turkish and Kurdish women’s movements follow the struggle of women in MENA. We, as the Yeni Yaşam newspaper’s supplement for women, reserved our cover for the Middle East Women's Initiative, which was founded last year. Our reporters also attended the Middle East Women's Conference and we reported about this conference. We should unit to grow our struggle. Our aim is to be a newspaper making the voice of women visible.

A year has passed since the women’s supplement was published. What would you like to say about your first year?

Women work in the whole production process of the women’s supplement, as editors, news directors, reporters, camerawomen, photographers, and even as distributors. The number of women is more than men. The women are in decision-making positions. Women are pioneers in the Kurdish press.