Journalist Arjin Dilek Öncel said that Nazım Daştan’s courage and positivity also gave her strength and added that he left a mark wherever he went. She underlined that Daştan’s approach to journalism and life continued to inspire those who worked alongside him.
Journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin were killed on 19 December 2024 while covering attacks on Tishrin, after being targeted by a Turkish state-owned UAV. Arjin Dilek Öncel, who shared the same field of work with Nazım Daştan, spoke to the ANF about her experiences and the legacy they left behind.
His courage and positivity gave me strength
Arjin Dilek Öncel said that she met Nazım Daştan while working at the Riha (Urfa) bureau of the Dicle News Agency and continued as follows: “Both journalists and those who know the hardships of this profession usually speak first about its difficulties when talking about journalism. I think the hardest thing is speaking about the friends we have lost. That is why talking about Nazım is very difficult. For those of us left behind, speaking about every friend we have lost is extremely hard. I began this profession in 2015 in Urfa and Nazım was one of the first journalists I met. It was impossible not to be affected by his sincerity, his warmth, and his love for the profession. It is the first anniversary of Nazım’s killing, and as you may have noticed, everyone speaks about his smile. He had a wide smile that drew people in. Nazım’s courage and positivity gave me strength as well. In that sense, this is how I actually began the profession. I was working in Urfa, and Nazım was in Antep. We may not have followed the same news stories together, but we were always in contact.”
Nazım left a mark everywhere and in every field
Öncel said that Nazım left a mark wherever he went and in every field, and continued as follows: “After Nazım left Antep, we went there and began working in his place. We wanted to report on families from Rojava living there. When we spoke with a few families, the Rojavan families asked us about Nazım. He was known by many different segments of society in that city. Nazım was wherever there was a rights violation, wherever there were the poor, wherever there were workers. When we went to the city, we saw and witnessed this once again. Nazım had knocked on many doors in that city and listened to many people’s stories. Just as Nazım left a mark on us, he left a mark wherever he was and in every field.”
He fought to uncover the truth
Öncel recalled that Nazım went to Rojava in 2014, during a period when attacks by ISIS were intensifying and said: “Nazım showed his courage there as well. He showed us there, too, what it means to pursue the truth and to bring the truth to light. Later, during the period of self-administration, he worked in Silopi. There, too, he produced many important reports. He went through a period of imprisonment. After his release from prison, he stood before us again with the same positivity. After that period, Nazım returned to Northern and Eastern Syria, where the revolution was unfolding. He wanted both to be part of that revolution and to continue working there, as attacks against the region were still ongoing. He signed countless reports there. Like our other colleagues from the Free Press who were killed, Nazım chose the difficult path, practicing journalism under the conditions of war.”
We can no longer mourn
Öncel said that Nazım and Cihan’s sole aim was to make the truth known to the world and added: “We have lost many friends like Nazım and Cihan. Truly, we can no longer mourn. Because of the successive news of death we receive, we are unable to grieve. We try to add strength to our struggle so that their pens are not left on the ground. We have taken over their banner, and we will carry it forward in one way or another. We have taken on their legacy. We have taken over their pens, their cameras, their photo cameras, and we continue this profession. With the spirit of struggle they left us, we will continue this profession and keep uncovering the truth.”