It is so sad. A environmental journalist killed in suspicious circumstances. RIP Hakan Tosun

Journalist and documentary filmmaker Hakan Tosun died following a violent assault in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district between the night of October 10 and 11, 2025. His death has provoked strong reactions from press freedom groups and raised many unanswered questions about possible motives and irregularities in the investigation.cpj+4​

What Is Known So Far

• Circumstances of the attack: Tosun, aged 50, was attacked in Esenyurt while walking home late at night. CCTV footage shows two young men (aged 18 and 24) approaching him on a motorcycle and repeatedly striking his head and neck before fleeing.bianet+2​

• Discovery and hospitalization: He was found unconscious and taken as an unidentified patient to Başakşehir Çam and Sakura City Hospital, suffering from a severe brain hemorrhage.

• Delay in identification: His family filed a missing person’s report when he didn’t return home. They learned his whereabouts more than 27 hours later, due to delays in hospital identification procedures.birgun+2​

• Death: Tosun died on October 13 after three days in a coma.nuj+1​

• Arrests: Two suspects were detained on October 12 and later formally arrested, though their motives remain unclear.ipi+2​

Key Unanswered Questions

Civil society and journalism organizations have pointed to multiple irregularities and missing evidence:

• Security camera footage from a nearby shop was reportedly seized by relatives of one suspect, while other CCTV videos went missing or were leaked to media before investigators saw them.mlsaturkey+2​

• Tosun’s phone, wallet, and ID disappeared after the assault, raising doubts about whether robbery was the motive.birgun​

• Questions were raised in parliament about:

  • Whether Tosun had previously reported threats related to his journalism.

  • Why his identity was delayed in being confirmed.

  • Whether the police treated the case as random violence or a targeted killing.cpj+1​

Speculations and Theories

• Political or professional motive: The International Press Institute (IPI) and Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urged Turkish authorities to investigate possible links between Tosun’s death and his environmental reporting and coverage of local corruption.mfrr+2​

• Warning to activists: Rights groups noted that Tosun’s work on ecological destruction and urban rights made him a visible figure in environmental activism, leading some observers to speculate that the assault could have been intended as intimidation.nuj+1​

• Police handling: Several journalists covering the story reportedly received threats, and Tosun’s lawyer alleged evidence manipulation during the early stages of the inquiry.mlsaturkey+1​

Public and Institutional Response

• Media and unions—including TGS, DİSK Basın-İş, and the European Federation of Journalists—have demanded a transparent and public investigation, describing the case as a test of Turkey’s commitment to press freedom.nuj​

• Parliamentary inquiry: CHP MP Murat Bakan formally requested details from the Interior Ministry regarding possible security neglect and the stalled investigation.cpj​

• Funeral: Tosun was laid to rest on October 15 amid widespread calls for justice from colleagues and activists.turkishminute+1​

In summary, Hakan Tosun’s death appears to be the result of a well-documented assault, but major uncertainties persist—especially concerning the missing footage, unclear motive, and possible links to his journalistic work. Press freedom organizations and opposition figures continue to push for full transparency and accountability in the ongoing investigation.bianet+5​