On the night of October 10th, journalist/documentary filmmaker Hakan Tosun, who was severely injured in an attack in Esenyurt, Istanbul, and later declared brain dead, was kept at the hospital for two days without identification. Due to the lack of fingerprint or facial recognition procedures, his family was only able to locate him days later. The whereabouts of the security camera footage from the scene is uncertain, and the images released to the public are fragmented and far from revealing the truth.
During this process, the questions raised by the public, the family, and his colleagues remain unanswered:
Who are the attackers? Why did they attack? Who are the people behind them? Where are Hakan’s belongings? Why was his identity not identified at the hospital? And why hasn’t any official come forward to answer these questions?
Today, in Turkey, the government has become incapable of protecting even the most fundamental human right, the right to life. The perpetrator of this crime is not only the ones who attacked Hakan Tosun that day; the true responsible party is the political power that has systematically made impunity the norm. Those who design the law to suit themselves are the ones trying to control the people through fear and force.
Hakan Tosun’s killing is not just an “incident,” but a societal warning. If this murder goes unpunished, it will once again be clear that no citizen’s life is secure in this country.
We want to draw attention to the following points:
The fact that Hakan Tosun was recorded at the hospital without identification for an extended period, the lack of fingerprinting or facial recognition procedures, is unacceptable. The late notification to the family raises suspicions that the authorities failed to fulfill their duties.
The fate of the security camera footage, whether it was collected, whether it has been manipulated, and whether there was any police intervention, remains unanswered. The footage provided to the public is fragmented and does not reveal the full truth of the incident.
Although the attackers’ identity information, phone numbers, and connections may have been identified, their true motivations, the relationships behind the attack, whether the assault was premeditated, why Hakan’s belongings are missing or were taken, remain unclear.
In light of this, our demands are clear:
The attack should be investigated immediately, independently, and transparently. Law enforcement, hospital management, and all relevant institutions should be monitored throughout the process.
The original versions of the security camera footage should be made available to lawyers and independent experts through a court decision.
An official statement should be published explaining why the identity was not identified.
Direct communication with the family should be established, regular updates on the process should be provided, and psychological and legal support should be offered.
The case should be kept under public, media, and press surveillance, and public oversight should be maintained.
Hakan Tosun was a journalist known for his independent reporting and sensitivity towards the environment and society. This investigation is not just about finding a perpetrator, but also a test for free press, public conscience, accountability, and democracy.
As DİSK Basın-İş, we declare clearly:
We are pursuing the struggle for justice for Hakan Tosun.
We will not allow the truth to be hidden, or the people’s right to access information to be obstructed.
We will not retreat in the face of pressure on the press and truth workers.
We will follow this case at every stage until justice is served.