15.07.2026 14:11
The tomb of Non-Commissioned Officer Ömer Halisdemir, who heroically fought during the July 15 coup attempt, is being visited intensively by citizens in Niğde on its 10th anniversary. Visitors reciting prayers emphasize that his sacrifice has not been forgotten. A citizen who came from Kayseri said, "We owe him a lot. My son is 9 years old, and I named him Ömer. One Ömer is gone, but many Ömers will come."
There is a heavy flow of visitors at the grave of Infantry Senior Chief Petty Officer Ömer Halisdemir, who was martyred after shooting the coup-attempting general at the Special Forces Command in Ankara during the Fetullahçı Terror Organization (FETÖ) coup attempt on July 15, 2016, in the Çukurkuyu town of Niğde's Bor district.
Many citizens visiting the martyr's grave recite the Quran and pray. Süleyman Karaarslan, who came from Ereğli district of Konya to visit the martyr's grave, said that 10 years have passed since the treacherous FETÖ coup attempt but the heroes will never be forgotten.
"THIS COUNTRY OWES A LOT TO THIS MAN" Karaarslan, stating that he came to the visit with his brother Mehmet Karaarslan, a Cyprus veteran, said, "God, let those days never happen again. These lands were not won easily. No one should attempt such a thing again. We prayed, we got goosebumps. This country owes a lot to this man."
Retired Lieutenant General Zekai Aksakallı, who was the Special Forces Commander during the FETÖ coup attempt, also visited Ömer Halisdemir's grave. "I NAMED MY SON ÖMER" Visitor Yasin Ağırtopçu stated that he came from Kayseri to visit the grave of martyr Ömer Halisdemir. Expressing his emotions at the martyr's grave, Ağırtopçu recorded the following:
"We came here to pray. May God never let such an event happen again. Our martyr became our great pride, he saved our nation. We owe him a lot. This is the first time we had the chance to come here, we came with my wife and children. We wanted our children to see such a hero, so we came as a family. Long live our nation. My son was born in July and is 9 years old, so I named him Ömer. One Ömer is gone, but many more Ömers will come."
"SUCH A HERO IS UNFORGETTABLE" Ali Niğdelioğlu said he came from Istanbul and visited the martyr's grave with his son. Niğdelioğlu, stating that he tries to visit Halisdemir's grave every year whenever he has the opportunity, said, "We feel a bit sad. Such a child of this nation will not come again. One feels emotional here, but also proud. We visited before, I came with my family. Such a hero is unforgettable."
Fadimana Dalkılıç stated that she came to visit the grave of Halisdemir, who sacrificed himself for his country.