Ali Gaffar Okkan was a police director who served in various capacities within the Turkish Security Organization, culminating in his appointment as Director of the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate during the final phase of his career. Throughout his professional life, he held administrative and operational responsibilities in multiple provinces. He is particularly known for his security duties in Diyarbakır during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Over the course of his career, he held various ranks and positions across different provinces, ultimately serving as Director of the Diyarbakır Security Directorate.

Birth and Education

Ali Gaffar Okkan was born in 1952 in the Hendek district of Sakarya province. His father was Fikri Okkan and his mother was İmran Okkan; his family were bakers. He began his police training at the Police College, graduating on 30 September 1970. He continued his professional education at the Police Academy and graduated on 29 September 1973.

Later in life, he pursued higher education at the Public Administration Department of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Ankara University, from which he graduated.

Infographic of Ali Gaffar Okkan (Anadolu Agency)

Entry into the Security Organization and Izmir Period

After graduating from the Police Academy, Ali Gaffar Okkan was appointed as an assistant commissioner to the Izmir Provincial Security Directorate. During his tenure in Izmir, he worked in various units and assumed administrative and operational responsibilities. He rose through the ranks to the position of police director and progressively advanced through the organizational hierarchy.

Service at the Şanlıurfa Provincial Security Directorate

In 1983, he was assigned to the Şanlıurfa Provincial Security Directorate cadre. During his service there, he assumed various administrative responsibilities and was promoted to branch director in 1985 after two years.

Service at the Eskişehir Provincial Security Directorate and Deputy Directorship

In 1986, he was assigned to the Eskişehir Provincial Security Directorate. While serving in this province, he participated in administrative activities and was appointed Deputy Director of Security in 1992. During his time in Eskişehir, he held responsibilities related to the management of the provincial security organization.

Promotion to First Class Security Directorate and Service in Kars

On 6 December 1993, Ali Gaffar Okkan was promoted to the rank of First Class Security Director. Following this promotion, he was appointed Director of the Kars Provincial Security Directorate. During his service in Kars, he served as the highest-ranking official responsible for the province’s security services.

Appointment as Director of the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate

On 18 November 1997, he assumed office as Director of the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate, serving until his martyrdom on 24 January 2001. This was the longest and most publicly recognized position of his career. His tenure in Diyarbakır lasted approximately four years, during which he was responsible for overseeing all security services in the province. All activities relating to public order, traffic, security, and public safety in the province were conducted under the authority of the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate.

Administrative Practices in Diyarbakır

During his tenure in Diyarbakır, various administrative measures were implemented to enhance security services across the province. Security cameras were installed at key locations throughout the city, enabling monitoring of developments across the urban area. Initiatives were introduced to increase the visibility of the security organization in the field.

Director Ali Gaffar Okkan adopted a management approach centered on direct and continuous engagement with the community. In this spirit, he visited local merchants at night in civilian clothing and personally interacted with citizens in public spaces, sharing his mobile phone number with them.

His friend Bedri Nal said of Gaffar Okkan: “Hazelnut workers would come here, and every single one of them, from the youngest to the oldest, had his phone number. He did a great deal for children, especially street children. He would tell us about them and derive great joy from helping them. Many people here would say, ‘He is our father.’”^【1】

During field visits in his official vehicle, he also escorted elderly individuals he encountered on the road back to their homes, using these opportunities to listen to their needs and concerns. These practices facilitated direct communication between the people of Diyarbakır and their security director and improved public access to institutional authorities.

Deployment of Female Police Officers

During this period, for the first time, practices were introduced to assign female police officers to active field duties. Female officers were deployed in traffic regulation, social patrols, and assistance activities. Specialized vehicles were allocated for these purposes.

Two small service vehicles were acquired and painted blue and white, with two female officers assigned to each. One vehicle was used to locate missing children and return them to their families, while the other provided transportation for elderly individuals with limited mobility. These initiatives are regarded as innovative approaches that strengthened the social support dimension of security services.

Social Support and Community Activities

Throughout his tenure, various social support activities were organized for needy families and students. Assistance programs were conducted with contributions from colleagues and philanthropists, fostering direct contact with families and initiatives to support children of school age. Efforts were made to establish contact with families of children working on the streets to encourage their enrollment in education.

Activities Targeting Youth and Sports Initiatives

Efforts were made to increase youth participation in social activities to distance them from terrorist and drug networks. Support was provided to amateur sports clubs. These activities were implemented as part of broader initiatives aimed at integrating young people into their social environment.

Relationship with Diyarbakırspor

Ali Gaffar Okkan closely followed the activities of Diyarbakırspor and contributed significantly to the club. He attended every match the team played, whenever possible. After one match, he said: “I am the Director of Diyarbakır Security. My duty is the security directorate, but I believe Diyarbakırspor, one of Turkey’s five great clubs, deserves its rightful place. I am a Diyarbakır native to the core.”^【2】

Journalist Naci Sapan described Ali Gaffar Okkan’s close relationship with Diyarbakırspor as follows: “He believed that Diyarbakırspor winning the championship would have a profound impact on the region, serving as an argument for social peace and unity. Diyarbakırspor eventually became champions, but he was no longer with us. Yet, it was he who paved the way for that championship.”^【3】

He provided administrative and organizational support during the club’s promotion to the First League. In recognition of his contributions, the club’s management bestowed upon him the honorary title of “Honorary President.”

Security and Public Order Monitoring

During his tenure in Diyarbakır, the city’s security situation was closely monitored. Surveillance cameras installed at critical points enabled continuous observation of public order. These monitoring activities were conducted as part of the coordination framework of security services.

Operations Against Terrorism

Throughout his tenure, Director Ali Gaffar Okkan regarded the fight against terrorist organizations as a fundamental pillar of security policy. In this context, he played an active role in operations targeting the Hizbullah terrorist organization, which had long instilled fear and pressure among the local population. The security operations he oversaw made significant contributions to restoring public order and safety in the city.

During Gaffar Okkan’s tenure, the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate conducted intensive and systematic security operations against terrorist organizations, primarily the PKK and Hizbullah. Numerous operations were carried out against armed terrorist cells, resulting in the seizure of various organizational documents and weapons, as well as the neutralization of many organization members.

Due to his strong relationship with the community and his trust-based approach, Okkan gained high legitimacy and respect among the people of Diyarbakır, making him a direct target of terrorist organizations. Investigations revealed that a planned assassination attempt against Ali Gaffar Okkan was coordinated following a Diyarbakırspor match, based on statements provided by captured organization members.

In one of his speeches, he said: “I kiss you all through your eyes and love you deeply. I love my organization and my flag. I am ready to die for every officer and for every family member.”^【4】

Armed Attack on 24 January 2001

On 24 January 2001, at approximately 17:40, while traveling in his official vehicle from the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate toward the Governor’s Office, Ali Gaffar Okkan was attacked by armed assailants on Sezai Karakoç Boulevard in the Şehitlik neighborhood of Yenişehir district. In the attack, Ali Gaffar Okkan and police officers Mehmet Kamalı, Sabri Kün, Mehmet Sepetçi, Atilla Durmuş, and Selahattin Baysoy were martyred.

The following conversation took place between the wounded police officer and the central command via radio:

Wounded officer: Central, central! We have been attacked!

Central: Where is the incident location?

Wounded officer: Şehitlik location

Central: Are there casualties?

Wounded officer: We have a martyr.

Central: What is the status of Officer 3310?

Wounded officer: May our heads remain safe...^【5】

The code “3310” mentioned in the conversation was Ali Gaffar Okkan’s radio call sign, which had acquired immense social value and respect among the people of Diyarbakır during his nearly four-year tenure.

Funeral and Burial

Following the attack, Ali Gaffar Okkan’s body was transported to his hometown of Hendek in Sakarya and buried there. The funeral was attended by numerous officials and citizens. The burial took place in the cemetery in Hendek district.

Commemoration Programs

Since his death, commemoration programs have been held annually on 24 January in numerous cities, especially Diyarbakır and Sakarya. Ceremonies are held at Sezai Karakoç Boulevard, the site of the attack in Diyarbakır, and at his grave in Hendek. These programs are organized with the participation of official institutions and citizens.

Memorial Initiatives

The name of Ali Gaffar Okkan has been incorporated into various public projects and social initiatives. Under the “Ali Gaffar Okkan Journey of the Heart Project,” children named Ali Gaffar and Gaffar Okkan in Diyarbakır participated in various activities. Organizational events were held under this project in multiple public institutions.

The deep social attachment and affection the people of Diyarbakır felt for Ali Gaffar Okkan have been concretized through symbolic practices aimed at preserving his memory. In this context, some families have named their newborn children “Ali Gaffar,” reflecting his enduring place in the city’s collective memory.

Additionally, some children named “Ali Gaffar” travel to Sakarya on the anniversaries of his martyrdom to participate in commemorative ceremonies at his grave. These acts are regarded not merely as individual remembrance but as a collective commemorative practice.

On 11 April 2022, as part of events marking the 177th anniversary of the establishment of the Turkish Police Organization, the “Martyrs’ Corner” was inaugurated within the Diyarbakır Provincial Security Directorate. As part of the same ceremony, a wax statue created in memory of the martyred Security Director Ali Gaffar Okkan was unveiled to the public.

Family

Ali Gaffar Okkan was married and had two children. His family actively participates in commemoration programs and official ceremonies. His wife and children have attended memorial events and official functions.