Turkish Reporter Brutally Beaten After Covering Local Council

October 06, 2025 – Turkey – 

On October 1, three unidentified men physically assaulted Evren Demirdaş, a reporter for the critical Turkish daily and broadcaster Sözcü, in the province of Elazığ. In the public attack, the assailants broke his nose and fled without uttering a word, leaving Demirdaş stunned and injured.

Demirdaş suspects the assault was retaliation for his investigative reporting into alleged corruption in the region. The beating took place just after a session of Elazığ’s municipal council, raising concerns that his journalism had made him a direct target.

Authorities acted quickly: police in Elazığ detained four suspects, and three of them were formally arrested. However, no trial date had been announced at the time of the report.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) welcomed the swift arrests but emphasized that true accountability must go beyond the assailants themselves. CPJ’s Turkey representative, Özgür Öğret, called for a thorough investigation not only into those who carried out the attack, but also into who ordered or coordinated it.

The incident underscores risks faced by journalists in Turkey who dare to probe topics like corruption. The public nature of the beating, combined with the lack of warning from the attackers, suggests the assault was meant to intimidate both Demirdaş and other media workers.

As of now, local prosecutors have not offered comment on the motive or the ongoing case. Demirdaş, though recovering from his injuries, remains in a precarious position, awaiting justice not only for his assault but for the protection of press freedom in a climate where critical reporting often provokes violence.

Reference – 

Men assault Turkish reporter Evren Demirdaş in public