Turkey families of 15 July coup martyrs speak on 10‑year anniversary

Lokman Biçinci, a 25‑year‑old who fought the 15 July 2016 coup attempt at the Akıncı base in Ankara, was killed by gunfire from the coup forces. His mother, Güldalı Biçinci, recounted his last words – “I will be a martyr for the nation and the flag” – and described the lasting grief and pride of his family. Streets, a stadium and a school in Kahramankazan have been named after him.

Police officer Fırat Bulut, 30, was also killed during the same coup while defending the General Staff headquarters. His father, Şinasi Bulut of Konya, said at the ten‑year anniversary that he lost his son but gained the nation’s honor, recalling his son’s defiant words about protecting the flag. A street in Erzurum and a school in Ankara’s Keçiören district now bear his name.

Both families emphasise that the memory of the fallen remains vivid a decade later and that their sacrifices continue to inspire patriotism across Turkey.