Fourteen bar associations issued a joint statement about the killing of journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan, calling for the protection of civilians' right to life.
Fourteen bar associations issued a joint statement about the killing, by a Turkish armed drone, of journalists Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan. The two journalists were killed on Thursday in Northern and Eastern Syria while doing their job.

The statement reads as follows: In this period of significant developments in Syria, national and international media organizations continue their journalistic activities to inform the world public. While efforts to create a non-conflict environment and restore normalcy in various regions of Syria continue, the threat of growing and deepening conflicts in Northern and Eastern Syria remains. It is of great importance to accurately and impartially convey information about the right to life of civilians, their life resources, and developments to the public.

International law imposes obligations to ensure the safety of journalists operating in conflict zones, including guaranteeing their right to life and preventing attacks and obstructions against them.

The statement also reminded that, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), last week’s report revealed that 104 journalists were killed worldwide this year and 520 are in prison. IFJ has called on the United Nations to urgently adopt an international convention to protect journalists. Such a convention must be accepted by the UN General Assembly as it will increase the safety of journalists working in war zones and under repressive regimes. It is the responsibility of national and international actors to clarify who carried out the attack, the statement added.

The statement condemned the killings and stressed: We remind national and international authorities of their obligation to protect civilians under universal legal principles, and we demand that an effective investigation process be conducted to identify the perpetrators.

The bar associations that signed the statement are as follows:

Semsûr Bar Association, Agirî Bar Association, Dîlok Bar Association, Çewlîg Bar Association, Bedlîs Bar Association, Dêrsim Bar Association, Amed Bar Association, Colemêrg Bar Association, Mêrdîn Bar Association, Muş Bar Association, Sêrt Bar Association, Riha Bar Association, Şirnex Bar Association, Wan Bar Association.[1]