Journalist and documentary filmmaker Hakan Tosun died on the night of October 11, 2025, after being attacked in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district.
Known for his independent documentaries on environmental and urban struggles, Tosun was beaten by unidentified assailants while returning home.
He was taken to the hospital unconscious, suffered brain death, and passed away on October 13.
Politicians, journalists, and media organizations have strongly condemned the attack.
Security Footage Reveals Brutal Assault
Security camera footage from the scene shows two attackers, one of them on a motorcycle, assaulting Tosun.
The video depicts the journalist being kicked repeatedly after falling to the ground, before the assailants fled.
The footage sparked public outrage, and authorities quickly identified the perpetrators.
Arrests and Investigation Process
According to a statement from the Istanbul Police Department, two suspects — A.M. (18) and A.Ş. (24) — were arrested and jailed on October 12.
However, Tosun’s lawyer Hakan Bozyurt claimed that key evidence and video footage were missing from the case file:
“There are three people involved, but only two suspects listed. Eyewitness accounts and nearby camera recordings are crucial,” he said.
Parliamentary Question Directed to the Interior Minister
CHP MP Murat Bakan, Deputy Chair for Internal Affairs, submitted a parliamentary question to Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya regarding Tosun’s death.
Bakan called for full transparency:
“The question ‘What happened to Hakan Tosun?’ must be answered. His family, lawyers, and the public deserve to know the truth.”
The motion also highlighted serious negligence, including that Tosun’s family was not informed for 27 hours, he was registered without identification, and no fingerprint or facial recognition procedures were performed.
Bakan added:
“Hakan Tosun was not an unidentified or unclaimed citizen. Why wasn’t his family informed? Why were hospital procedures not carried out? These questions demand answers.”
Public Reaction and Calls for Justice
Tosun’s death was met with shock and grief across Turkey’s media community.
Politicians and press organizations emphasized that the attack targeted not just one journalist, but the freedom of the press and the public’s right to information.
The Press Council, Contemporary Journalists’ Association (ÇGD), DİSK Press Union, and the Climate Justice Coalition all condemned the assault.
While the exact motive remains unclear, some journalists and activists suggest that Tosun’s reporting on environmental and urban resistance movements may have angered powerful interests.
Who Was Hakan Tosun?
Born in Istanbul in 1975, Tosun began his career in 1993 as a technical consultant at private radio stations.
Since 2009, he had devoted himself to documentary filmmaking, gaining recognition for works such as “Toward the Rooftops,” “Tekel Workers,” and “Validebağ Resistance,” all of which explored grassroots social struggles.
