Colombian President Gustavo Petro issued a powerful statement on December 20, condemning the Turkish drone strikes that killed Kurdish journalists Cîhan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan near Kobani (Kobanê) in northern Syria on December 19.
Highlighting the role of Kurdish fighters in defeating ISIS, Petro called on global powers to end their interference in Syria and protect Kurdish people against ongoing genocidal policies.
“In present-day Syria, a free Kurdish journalist has been killed. I call on the leaders of Russia, Iran, Turkey, Israel, and the United States to stop dividing Syria. This division is heading towards a new genocide — the genocide of the Kurdish people,” Petro wrote in a social media post.
The president linked the plight of the Kurds to other historical atrocities, such as the genocide of the Palestinian people, and emphasised the importance of preserving Syria’s national unity.
“Syria must remain a republic based on its national and ethnic diversity and the deep autonomy of its communities. The Syrian people deserve free elections to determine their future, as is demanded for other nations around the world,” he said.
Petro reiterated his support for the Kurds, acknowledging their pivotal role in defeating ISIS and advocating for their protection: “The Kurdish people, with their armed women fighters and democratic principles, were able to stop the fascist fundamentalism of ISIS. The world owes them a debt of gratitude. I urge governments and peoples worldwide to care for and support the Kurdish people in Syria.”
Petro, a former guerrilla fighter and leader of Colombia Humana, also known as the Progressive Movement, was elected president in June 2022. Since taking office, he has worked to address the damages inflicted by previous right-wing governments on indigenous communities and revolutionary movements.
Petro has also emerged as a prominent global voice on crimes against humanity. He was one of the first world leaders to recognise Israel’s attacks on Gaza as genocide, calling for international legal sanctions against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet.
Petro’s remarks came after he reposted a statement from Women in Journalism, a global watchdog for women reporters, condemning the deaths of Kurdish journalists.
Bilgin and Daştan were killed while reporting on Turkish attacks on the Tishreen Dam, near Kobanê.
The statement called for an independent investigation into the targeting of journalists, labelling the attacks as potential war crimes.
Women in Journalism highlighted the systemic targeting of Kurdish journalists by Turkey, saying, “This tragedy comes amid escalating Turkish attacks in northern and eastern Syria. Purposefully targeting the press in conflict zones constitutes a war crime. Türkiye must be held accountable for the growing number of Kurdish journalists killed and injured by its drone strikes.”
Petro’s condemnation joins a growing global chorus demanding support for the Kurds in Syria’s chaotic landscape, and asking for accountability for the targeted killing of Kurdish journalists.
[Abridged from Medya News.]