Istanbul, 16 October 2025 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Turkish authorities to thoroughly investigate the death of Hakan Tosun, a freelance reporter and documentary filmmaker, who died on 13 October after being assaulted in Istanbul.
Tosun, 50, was attacked on 11 October in the city’s Esenyurt district by two men on a motorcycle, who beat him unconscious before fleeing. He was taken to hospital but succumbed to cerebral hemorrhaging three days later. Police have arrested two suspects, aged 18 and 24, though their identities and possible motives have not been disclosed.
Concerns Over Investigation
The trade union Disk Basin‑is has raised concerns about irregularities in the investigation, citing:
- Lack of transparency regarding the attackers’ identities.
- No disclosure of Tosun’s personal belongings.
- Unclear circumstances around his hospital admission and identification.
- Fragmented CCTV footage and absence of forensic evidence collection.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) also urged authorities to clarify whether Tosun’s killing was connected to his work, while noting that the neighborhood where the attack occurred has a higher‑than‑average crime rate.
Tosun’s Work and Legacy
Tosun was known for covering environmental issues, ecological destruction, and social movements, often documenting protests and local activism on his personal X (formerly Twitter) account. His reporting gave visibility to grassroots campaigns and environmental struggles that rarely received mainstream coverage.
Broader Context
Türkiye has faced repeated criticism over its treatment of journalists. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has previously ruled against Ankara for violations of press freedom, including in the case of Şık v. Turkey, where the court found that pre‑trial detention of a journalist for critical reporting breached Articles 5 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Outlook
Press freedom advocates stress that Tosun’s death must not become another case of impunity. CPJ’s Turkey representative, Özgür Öğret, stated that while arrests have been made, authorities must “identify any and all possible instigators in order to achieve full justice.”
In essence, the killing of Hakan Tosun has become a test case for Türkiye’s commitment to protecting journalists, with international observers demanding accountability and transparency in the pursuit of justice.
Sources: CPJ; JURIST; IFJ; European Court of Human Rights rulings.
Excerpts from jurist.org article by George Macauley | U. Toronto Faculty of Law, CA
