Şenay Aybüke Yalçın was born on 3 September 1994 in Çorum. She completed her secondary education in the district of Edremit in Balıkesir. Due to her talent in music, she was admitted to the Faculty of Music Education at Konya Necmettin Erbakan University, where she enjoyed a successful university life both academically and artistically.

Professional Life

In October 2016, Şenay Aybüke Yalçın began her career as a music teacher at Kozluk Multi-Program Anatolian High School in the Kozluk district of Batman. She built strong bonds with her students, presenting music not merely as a subject but as a natural part of life. Her diligence, selflessness and kind personality earned her the affection of both colleagues and students. She quickly became a memorable teacher at the school where she served.

Martyrdom

On 9 June 2017, while returning home after distributing report cards to her students, Şenay Aybüke Yalçın became the target of an armed attack carried out by PKK terrorists against the vehicle of Veysi Işık, then mayor of Kozluk. Severely wounded in the attack, she succumbed to her injuries at Kozluk State Hospital despite all medical efforts. She was only 22 years old at the time of her martyrdom.

Funeral and Commemoration Ceremonies

A ceremony was held at the Batman Teachers’ House following her martyrdom. Her funeral was held in Osmancık district of her hometown Çorum, where she was laid to rest. Annual commemoration ceremonies are held at her grave on 9 June and on 24 November, Teachers’ Day. In 2025, on the eighth anniversary of her death, a hatim was recited at her grave and prayers were offered.

The final journey of Teacher Şehit Aybüke (Anadolu Agency)

Preserving Her Memory

The name of martyr Şenay Aybüke Yalçın has been given to schools, libraries, parks, streets and art workshops across many provinces of Türkiye, beginning with the music workshop at the school where she served. An oil field on Gabar Mountain, a classroom at Batman University and a middle school in Osmancık also bear her name. The “Martyr Şenay Aybüke Yalçın Music Park” built in Osmancık aims to introduce children to art through music-themed play areas.

Martyr Aybüke Yalçın (Anadolu Agency)

Cinema Film and Legacy

Her life and dedication to teaching were the subject of the cinema film “Aybüke; I Became a Teacher!”. A joint production of TRT and Bee Production, the film premiered on 24 November 2023. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his wife Emine Erdoğan, and the Yalçın family attended the premiere. The film portrayed Aybüke Yalçın’s idealism, her love for her students and the profound impact she left in the places where she served.

Şenay Aybüke Yalçın has secured a place in Türkiye’s collective memory through her sacrifice, diligence and devotion to her profession, and continues to serve as an inspiration to all young people who believe in the ideal of teaching.