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October 13, 2025 – Turkey –
Turkish journalist and environmental activist Hakan Tosun, aged around 50, is fighting for his life after a violent assault in Istanbul that many believe was linked to his work reporting on environmental issues.
Tosun went missing after getting off public transport and was later found unconscious and gravely wounded in the Esenyurt district. He had suffered a severe beating and was rushed to the hospital, where doctors diagnosed a brain hemorrhage and described his condition as critical. His family, alarmed by delays in locating him and obtaining hospital information, raised concerns that the assault was not a random attack, but an attempted killing tied to his journalism.
His sister, Öznur Tosun, emphasized that for hours the family had no confirmation of his whereabouts or status and had difficulty accessing hospital records. She asserted that this was not a mugging but likely a targeted attack intended to silence him.
Tosun has long been active in covering environmental abuses, land degradation, and related local struggles in Turkey. His reporting placed him in uneasy proximity to powerful interests, making him a visible figure in environmental journalism.
Human rights groups, journalist associations, and press freedom advocates have called for a prompt, transparent, and independent investigation into the circumstances of his assault. They stress the need for protection for journalists, especially those working on issues that expose sensitive local power structures and interests.
This incident highlights the risks journalists face even in countries with formal press protections: covering environmental or climate issues can still carry danger. Tosun’s case may become a test for the Turkish authorities’ willingness to uphold the safety of journalists and ensure accountability when such attacks occur.
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