ARTIST and journalist Zehra Dogan is patron of a new journalist solidarity campaign group initiated by the Morning Star’s NUJ chapel and backed by media organisations in Britain, Turkey and Kurdistan.

Ms Dogan who was recently awarded the Index Freedom of Expression Arts Award described the launch of the new Journalists for Democracy in Turkey and Kurdistan as “a very big revolution in the field of journalism.”

The Kurdish journalist was freed from jail in February after spending more than two years in prison on terror charges for a painting depicting the destruction of the south-eastern city of Nusaybin.

The campaign will build links including twinning with working-class journalists and news organisations in Turkey and Kurdistan.

She told the Star: “This is something we as Kurdish journalists have been wanting to do for many, many years. We have always said that the international press needs to be with us. We need great solidarity because there are many journalists in prison.

“This is a very big revolution in the field of journalism … This is a very big opportunity for our voices to be heard.”

The launch of the campaign coincides with World Press Freedom Day. 

Turkey remains the biggest jailer of journalists in the world.

More details in this week’s weekend edition of the Star.