Turkish Environmental Journalist Dies After Brutal Attack in Istanbul; Media Organizations Condemn, Demand Investigation
Turkish journalist and environmental activist
Hakan Tosun died in hospital on October 13, 2025, after a violent attack in Istanbul. Various international media organizations condemned Tosun's murder and called on authorities to conduct a swift and transparent investigation.
The Turkish Progressive Journalists' Union stated that attacks on journalists have become "commonplace" in Turkey and demanded "clarity and accountability" regarding the incident, a demand echoed by Reporters Without Borders. The International Press Institute (IPI) also called for a thorough investigation.
Police have confirmed that they have arrested two men, aged 18 and 24, in connection with the attack. However, the exact details of the suspects' alleged roles in the attack remain unclear. No details have yet been released.
Tosun, 50, was attacked while walking on the streets of Istanbul's Esenyurt district on October 11 and was found unconscious. According to CCTV footage broadcast by Turkish media, two men on a motorcycle struck Tosun in the head. The severe head injuries caused a brain hemorrhage and he was taken to Cham and Sakura City Hospital, where he died on Monday after two days of intensive care.
After doctors confirmed Tosun's brain death, dozens of journalists, environmental activists, and supporters gathered outside the Başakşehir Cam and Sakura City Hospital where he was treated.
#HakanTosunaNeOldu
— Fatoş Erdoğan (@puleragema) October 14, 2025
Gazeteci arkadaşimız Hakan Tosun için Nurtepe Cemevi’nde taziye kuruldu.
Cemevinin her yerine Hakan Tosun'un fotoğrafları asıldı.
"Direnişin Belgeselcisi, Doğanın Sesi" pic.twitter.com/PALsjxO28d
Journalist Fatoş Erdoğan shared the news of Tosun's death on social media, and also announced that his organs would be donated. "Our friend and journalist Hakan Tosun has been declared brain dead. He wanted his organs donated so he could leave this world after giving life to others," she wrote on X.
"Our friend, who fought for the right to life of wolves, birds, trees, and people, was beaten to death. Until our voices are heard, we will continue to ask: What happened to Hakan Tosun?" she added.
Tosun began his career as a radio technician in the early 1990s. Since 2009, he has been a news editor for private television channels and a freelance documentary filmmaker. He was known for his coverage and documentaries focusing on environmental protection struggles, urban activism, and the fight against gentrification.
The Istanbul Prosecutor's Office is investigating the case, collecting witness statements and reviewing CCTV footage to determine the circumstances of the attack.
It is common for journalists in Turkey to face physical violence and judicial harassment while practicing their profession.
Turkey, which struggles with a poor record of press freedom, was ranked 159th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
