Akif Kapaklı, born on January 1, 1954, in the Sungurlu district of Çorum, is known for his activities as a contractor in business and his active role in local politics. On the night of July 15, 2016, during the military coup attempt, he took to the streets in civilian defense and was seriously wounded by shrapnel from a bombing in the area, later dying in hospital as a martyr.【1】Family Structure and Personal InformationOriginally from Çorum, Akif Kapaklı was married to Fatma Kapaklı and was the father of seven children. He spent a significant part of his life in his hometown of Sungurlu and in Ankara.Although retired, he continued his productive engagement in business through contracting. Sources indicate that on the night of July 15, he was engaged in religious duties and in the process of completing the recitation of the entire Qur’an.【2】Professional and Political ActivitiesIn his professional life, Kapaklı operated in the contracting sector. In addition to his business activities, he assumed active responsibilities in politics, serving at one point as the Sungurlu District Chair of the Motherland Party (ANAP). He participated in the 1999 general elections as a candidate for parliament in an effort to transition from local to national politics.【3】July 15, 2016 Night and Civil ResistanceOn the night of July 15, while at home and aware of the coup attempt, Kapaklı, after completing the recitation of the Qur’an, went outside with his son Ömer Faruk Kapaklı.They first moved toward Etimesgut Square and then proceeded toward the Presidency Complex. Near the General Command of the Gendarmerie in the Beştepe area, he joined efforts to halt the advance of armored units toward civilians and attempted to directly communicate with military personnel inside the tanks to intervene.【4】Injury and MartyrdomAt approximately 00:01, he sustained severe injuries from multiple shrapnel fragments that struck his body due to a bomb detonated near the General Command of the Gendarmerie by coup forces. His son Ömer Faruk Kapaklı, who was with him at the time, was also wounded in the same explosion and became a veteran.Akif Kapaklı was transported to the hospital in a private vehicle while conscious and made statements to his family during transit that carried the nature of a final testament. Despite medical intervention, he could not be saved and passed away on July 16, 2016.【5】Funeral Arrangements and Preservation of His MemoryThe body of Martyr Akif Kapaklı was transferred to his hometown of Sungurlu in Çorum on July 17, 2016. The funeral, held after the noon prayer and attended by the district protocol and a large crowd of citizens, took place at Karşıyaka Cemetery.【6】A vocational and technical Anatolian high school in Sungurlu, Çorum, was named in his memory,【7】 and official commemorative ceremonies are held annually at his gravesite on the anniversary of his martyrdom.【8】