Men assault Turkish reporter Evren Demirdaş in public

Istanbul, October 6, 2025—Turkish authorities in the eastern province of Elazığ must investigate the recent assault of journalist Evren Demirdaş and ensure his attackers and anyone behind the assault are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.

On October 1, three men beat the journalist and broke his nose. Demirdaş, the Elazığ reporter for the critical daily newspaper and broadcaster Sözcü, told CPJ that he didn’t know his attackers; they didn’t say anything to him during the beating. He said he believes they were sent in retaliation for his reporting on alleged corruption in the area. Elazığ police took four suspects into custody following the assault, of which three were arrested.

“CPJ is glad that Turkish authorities in Elazığ rapidly arrested suspects in the attack on journalist Evren Demirdaş,” said Özgür Öğret, CPJ’s Turkey representative. “However, the instigators behind this cowardly act should also be thoroughly investigated to achieve true justice. The authorities must ensure that attacks on the media will have consequences.”

Demirdağ was assaulted in public after a gathering of Elazığ’s municipal council. No trial date for the alleged attackers was set at the time of publication. 

CPJ emailed the chief prosecutor’s office in Elazığ for comment but did not receive a reply.