The first hearing in the case over the attack that killed journalist and environmental advocate Hakan Tosun will be held tomorrow. Ahead of the hearing, Tosun’s lawyers issued a written statement drawing attention to the public significance of the trial and the inadequacy of the courtroom where proceedings are scheduled to take place.
In the statement, the lawyers stressed that Tosun was not only a journalist but also part of a broader struggle to defend environmental rights and living spaces. For that reason, they said, the case “cannot be regarded as an ordinary criminal trial.” They argued that the proceedings stand at the intersection of the right to life, freedom of expression and environmental rights, giving the case a strong public dimension.
The statement said findings in the case file and debates surrounding the legal nature of the incident had heightened public interest in the trial. A large number of lawyers, lawmakers, bar association representatives, journalists and civil society representatives are expected to attend the hearing, it said. However, the current courtroom has a capacity of only around 30 people, raising concerns that participation will effectively be restricted.
The lawyers said their request, submitted on March 31, 2026, for a courtroom with adequate physical capacity had still not been met. They warned that this situation could amount to a violation of the principle of public hearings, which they described as an inseparable part of the right to a fair trial.
The statement emphasized that this right is guaranteed under Article 36 of Turkey’s Constitution and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Restricting access to the hearing because of inadequate physical conditions would not only limit public attendance, it said, but could also prevent legal representatives from effectively participating in the proceedings and undermine the right to defense statements. The lawyers also said insufficient physical conditions could pose risks in terms of order and security.
Calling on the authorities, Tosun’s lawyers said the hearing must be held in a courtroom with sufficient capacity in order for the trial to proceed in a healthy, orderly and lawful manner. The statement concluded with the words: “Respectfully announced to the public.”
TO THE PRESS AND THE PUBLIC
The first hearing in the case concerning the attack that caused the death of journalist and environmental advocate Hakan Tosun will be held tomorrow. Considering that Hakan Tosun was not only a journalist but also part of a struggle defending environmental rights and living spaces, it is clear that this proceeding cannot be regarded as an ordinary criminal trial. This case constitutes proceedings with a strong social dimension, situated at the intersection of the right to life, freedom of expression and environmental rights, and closely followed by the public.
Discussions regarding the findings in the case file, the nature of the incident and its legal qualification have increased public interest and sensitivity toward the case. In this context, it has become clear that a large number of lawyers, lawmakers, bar association representatives, journalists, civil society representatives and Hakan’s friends will follow the hearing in person. In the face of this expected high level of participation, it is beyond dispute that the current courtroom, with a capacity of 30 people, will be physically inadequate.
As Hakan Tosun’s lawyers, our request dated March 31, 2026, for the allocation of a courtroom with adequate physical capacity has not been met to date.
The public nature of hearings is an inseparable part of the right to a fair trial. This principle, guaranteed under Article 36 of the Constitution and Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights, must be ensured not only in theory but also in practice. Restricting access to the hearing because of physical inadequacies would constitute a violation of the principle of public hearings, while also undermining the right to defense statements by preventing legal representatives of the parties from effectively participating in the proceedings. Furthermore, it is clear that conducting proceedings in a limited and inadequate physical environment would pose serious risks in terms of order and security.
For these reasons, in order to ensure that the proceedings are conducted in a healthy, orderly and lawful manner, and in order to concretely guarantee the principle of public hearings and the right to a fair trial, we once again publicly remind the competent authorities that it is essential, for the proper conduct of the case, that the hearing be held in a courtroom with sufficient capacity and suitable physical conditions.
Respectfully announced to the public.
May 5, 2026
Lawyers for the Hakan Tosun Case
