A respected Turkish journalist who spent years giving a voice to environmental and urban struggles has been killed.
His family calls it a brutal and senseless attack. How could a walk home end this way?
Hakan Tosun, 50, was assaulted in Istanbul’s Esenyurt district in October while returning home.
CCTV footage shows two attackers beating him in the street.
He was rushed to hospital but never recovered. Police have arrested two suspects, aged 18 and 24.
An initial forensic report leaves little room for doubt. “This was a prolonged and horrific act of violence,” said family lawyer Onur Cingil.
He described repeated blows, including “many kicks to the head,” that resulted in a skull fracture.
“The fatal injuries were clearly caused by the strikes to his head,” he added.
Forensic Findings Confirm
Tosun’s sister, Oznur, echoed that conclusion. “There were fractures all over his body.
What we saw in the footage is now confirmed in the report,” she said, noting that prosecutors have requested a more detailed examination.
Tosun was widely known for his documentaries and reporting on environmental protection, urban activism and the fight against gentrification.
These were stories often overlooked, but deeply felt.
His death has left a painful question hanging in the air.
When those who document society’s struggles aren’t safe, who tells the story next?
