Mourning the Loss of Journalist and Filmmaker Hakan Tosun
The Turkish press community and all who care about truth and justice are mourning the death of Hakan Tosun, a journalist and documentary filmmaker found brutally beaten on a roadside in Istanbul. After being missing for days, he was discovered with severe injuries and later died in hospital.
The news of his passing has brought shock and profound sadness to those who knew him, to his colleagues in the media, and to countless others who admired his quiet courage and unwavering commitment to telling the stories that mattered.
Hakan Tosun was more than a journalist, he was a chronicler of resistance, a witness to injustice, and a voice for those the world too easily forgets. Through his documentaries, he gave visibility to the struggles of workers, environmental defenders, and ordinary citizens fighting against the forces of greed and corruption.
Those who worked alongside him remember his humility, his sense of purpose, and the quiet integrity with which he approached every project. His death is not only a personal loss to his friends and colleagues, but a deep wound for the community of independent journalists and filmmakers in Turkey.
A Life Devoted to Truth
Born in Istanbul in 1975, Hakan Tosun began his career in media in the 1990s and moved into documentary filmmaking in 2009. Over the years, he created a remarkable body of work that reflected his belief in the transformative power of film.
His documentaries Tekel İşçileri (Tekel Workers), Dönüşüm (Gentrification), Büyük Anadolu Yürüyüşü (The Great Anatolian March), and Validebağ Direnişi (The Resistance of Validebağ) captured the voices of ordinary people standing up against injustice, displacement, and environmental destruction.
Through his lens, Hakan Tosun revealed what mainstream narratives sought to obscure: the resilience, dignity, and courage of those who resist.
A Death That Raises Painful Questions
Hakan was last seen on 10 October. Days later, he was found seriously injured and taken to hospital in Istanbul’s Başakşehir district. Despite the efforts of medical staff, he succumbed to his injuries, leaving behind grieving family, friends, and colleagues.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain unclear. Authorities have not identified who attacked him or why. Yet, in a country where journalists have long faced threats, harassment, and violence, many fear this is not an isolated act, but part of a broader climate of hostility toward the free press.
A Call for Justice
As we mourn Hakan Tosun, we must also demand truth and accountability.
His killers must be identified and brought to justice not only for his sake, but for the sake of every journalist in Turkey who risks their safety to report reality as it is.
Silencing a journalist is an attack on society’s collective right to know.
The memory of Hakan Tosun should ignite renewed determination to defend that right to ensure that no other journalist meets such an end simply for doing their job.
Attackers Arrested
In a rapid development, police teams apprehended the suspects responsible for the brutal attack: A.M. (18) and A.Ş. (24). After being detained and questioned at the police station, both individuals were brought before a court, where they were formally arrested and sent to prison.
While their capture offers a measure of justice, many still call for a full and transparent investigation to determine the motive behind the attack and whether others may have been involved
Remembering His Legacy
In the face of violence, Hakan chose creation. In the face of silence, he chose truth.
His death is a tragedy, but his work endures, an archive of courage and compassion that will continue to speak long after his passing.
We remember him for how he lived, with integrity, conviction, and an unshakable belief in the power of storytelling to build a better world.