NûJINHA News Agency, which publishes with a focus on the Middle East, was subjected to a cyberattack on the evening of 6 June. While brief technical disruptions occurred following the attack, the agency continued its publications. NûJINHA Editor Arjin Dilek Öncel and Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) President Roza Metina drew attention to the fact that women were the target of the attack.

 

'WE ARE TRYING TO BE THE VOICE OF WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST'

 

Recalling that NûJINHA began publishing in 2021 with the aim of amplifying women's voices, Arjin Dilek Öncel said the agency publishes in 5 languages: Kurdish, Turkish, Arabic, Persian and English. Drawing attention to the fact that women bear the heaviest consequences of wars, conflicts and rights violations in the Middle East, Arjin Dilek Öncel said: "From Gaza to Sudan, from Afghanistan to the four parts of Kurdistan, we are trying to make visible what women are experiencing. We convey not only the violations but also women's resistance, their struggle and their role in social transformation."

 

Stating that the attack was carried out by a pro-Iran group, Arjin Dilek Öncel noted that their coverage of developments in Iran and Rojhilat has disturbed certain circles. Arjin Dilek Öncel said despite internet blackouts in Iran they have continued to voice the concerns of women and opposition groups in the region

 

Reporting that some content in the English, Arabic and Persian services was deleted as a result of the attack, Arjin Dilek Öncel said the threatening messages also included warnings of new attacks. Arjin Dilek Öncel said: "These are not the first attacks aimed at silencing women's voices, and they may not be the last. But neither will women abandon their struggle, nor will we women journalists abandon our journalism. These attacks will come to nothing."

 

Recalling that press organizations in Kurdistan published solidarity messages following the attack, Arjin Dilek Öncel said: "The international press must not remain silent. We are a women's agency based in the Middle East. International journalism organizations must also raise their voices against this attack. Solidarity sustains life. These attacks can only be stopped through a collective response."

 

'THERE IS A SPECIFIC ATTACK ON WOMEN'S PRESS'

 

MKG President Roza Metina said: "These attacks are not a coincidence. NûJINHA is not only the voice of Kurdish women but also of women in the Middle East and around the world. A specific attack is being waged against the women's press so that women's cries are not heard. It is being targeted because it exposes violence against women, war crimes and rights violations."

 

Roza Metina said: "Covering Newroz, following 1 May, or being in the field for the people's right to information is not a crime. These acts of targeting cannot make NûJINHA or free press workers take a step back. That is the purpose of the attacks, but they will not succeed."

 

Emphasizing that a common stance must be taken against attacks on the free press, Roza Metina drew attention to the importance of solidarity. Stating that the free press is built on a strong tradition of struggle, Roza Metina said: "The pen of Deniz Fırats, Gurbetelli Ersöz's, Nûjiyan Erhans, Nazım Daştans and Cihan Bilgins will not remain on the ground. The tradition of the free press will continue."