8 September is the International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity.

Dear friends,

8 September is the International Day of Journalists’ Solidarity. This date reminds us that journalism is not only a profession, but also a community in which mutual support and a willingness to defend our colleagues’ right to work freely and safely are especially important.

For me, solidarity begins when pressure on another journalist is no longer seen as someone else’s problem.

When one journalist is persecuted, prevented from doing their work, threatened or pressured into silence, it affects the entire profession. Such cases create an atmosphere of fear and can silence far more than just one person.

We may work for different media outlets, hold different views and disagree with one another. But there is one fundamental principle that should unite us: every journalist has the right to ask questions, seek information and tell society about what truly matters.

On this day, I wish all my colleagues safety, professional resilience and the support of those around them.

May solidarity be more than just a word — may it be a principle we all share. Let us stand by one another.

— Nazira Darimbet, President of the Adil Soz Foundation