The co-chairs of the Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tuncer Bakırhan, released a statement regarding journalist and documentary filmmaker Hakan Tosun, who had been missing since the night of 10 October and was later found beaten by the roadside. On Sunday night, lawyer Hakan Bozyurt, a member of the Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD), confirmed that two people have been arrested in connection with the attack on the journalist.
In a statement on social media, Tülay Hatimoğulları announced that Tosun is in intensive care, fighting for his life. She wrote: “We are deeply saddened to learn that journalist and environmental defender #HakanTosun, who has been missing for two days, was attacked and is now fighting for his life in intensive care. For years, Hakan Tosun has worked tirelessly to expose assaults on nature and living spaces, and to make visible the resistance of villagers. We wish a speedy recovery to Hakan Tosun, who has always been the voice of all of us through his reporting. The attack against him must be investigated thoroughly and without any doubt. I send my best wishes to his family and loved ones.”
Tuncer Bakırhan also said: “Journalist and activist Hakan Tosun, who has been the voice of society through his documentaries from Bergama to Mount Ida and from Samandağ to Akbelen, had been missing for two days. We are deeply saddened to learn that Hakan Tosun, who had been missing, suffered a brain hemorrhage after being struck in the head and has been taken into intensive care. We wish him a swift recovery. This incident must be immediately and transparently clarified, and those responsible must be brought to justice. We will closely follow the process.”
Lawyer Hakan Bozyurt said: “The incident was officially recorded in the Esenyurt Mehmet Akif neighborhood. Hakan’s identity was confirmed very late in the official records, which is why the family could not be contacted immediately.”
Bozyurt added: “There were video recordings in the case file. However, to fully clarify the incident, eyewitness accounts and surveillance footage need to be examined. We will submit our requests regarding this. All eyewitnesses and pieces of evidence are extremely valuable. It is crucial that they are delivered to us and added to the case file. We will all follow this case closely.”