Ömer Halisdemir was born on 4 March 1974 in the village of Çukurkuyu, located in the Bor district of Niğde, as one of seven children of his father Hasan Hüseyin Halisdemir and his mother Fadimana Halisdemir. He spent his childhood in Çukurkuyu and began working as a shepherd from the age of small to support his family. According to his father, he was a child who deeply loved nature and animals and was hardworking and disciplined.

Ömer Halisdemir’s Childhood (Fikriyat)

Educational and Military Career

He began his education in Niğde. Despite difficult conditions during his childhood, he continued attending school and supported his family by herding sheep after classes. After completing his education, he chose a military career and joined the Turkish Armed Forces in 1999 as a Infantry Non-Commissioned Officer.

Halisdemir held numerous critical assignments within the Turkish Armed Forces, both domestically and abroad. He served in various military operations in Northern Iraq, Southeastern Anatolia, Afghanistan and Europe.

He was described by his colleagues as a disciplined, courageous and dedicated soldier. As a protection non-commissioned officer, he was selected as one of the most trusted personnel by Major General Zekai Aksakallı, Commander of the Special Forces.

The 15 July 2016 Coup Attempt and Martyrdom

On the night of 15 July 2016, coup plotters affiliated with FETÖ moved to seize control of the state. One of the key actors in the coup attempt, then Deputy Commander of the Special Forces, Brigadier General Semih Terzi, set out with accompanying coup soldiers to capture the Special Forces Command headquarters in Gölbaşı.

Upon learning of this, the then Commander of the Special Forces, Major General Zekai Aksakallı, called one of his most trusted soldiers, Omar Halisdemir, and gave him the following order:

“Ömer, Brigadier General Semih Terzi is a traitor to the homeland. Kill him before he enters the headquarters. There is martyrdom in this end; forgive him his rights.”

Ömer Halisdemir, as clearly confirmed by official records, accepted the order without hesitation, saying: “Yes, Commander, may my rights be forgiven. You too forgive me.”

According to security camera footage, Halisdemir drew his service pistol and advanced toward the headquarters entrance. After waiting briefly, he aimed his weapon at Semih Terzi, who was moving among the coup soldiers, and fired three shots, fatally striking him in the forehead and neutralizing him. As the coup general collapsed to the ground, the accompanying soldiers turned on Ömer Halisdemir and opened fire, killing him with seventeen bullets.

Ömer Halisdemir, moments before his death on the night of 15 July 2016 (Yeni Şafak)

Funeral and Reactions in Türkiye

The body of the martyred Ömer Halisdemir was taken to his hometown, the village of Çukurkuyu in the Bor district of Niğde, where he was buried in a funeral attended by thousands.

Halisdemir’s martyrdom stirred widespread emotion across Türkiye. Memorial prayers were held in many mosques and absentee funeral prayers were performed. Efforts were made in numerous locations, including the 15 July Martyrs Museum, to preserve his memory for future generations.

Preserving His Memory

The name of Ömer Halisdemir has been given to schools, streets, squares and public institutions across Türkiye.

• On 20 August 2016, Niğde University was renamed “Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University”.
• A monument was erected at the entrance of the Special Forces Command, at the exact location where he was martyred.
• Schools, parks and cultural centers bearing his name were opened throughout Türkiye.
• Artists and writers created works to honor his memory. Poet Dursun Ali Erzincanlı wrote a poem titled “30 Birds” recounting his story.

Halisdemir’s father, Hasan Hüseyin Halisdemir, expressed his feelings about his son’s martyrdom in these words:

“I raised him for the homeland. The homeland asked for him, and I gave him.”

Ömer Halisdemir (AA)

Ömer Halisdemir became a name etched in Türkiye’s political and military history through his actions on the night of 15 July 2016. Halisdemir today is recognized as a soldier who made one of the greatest contributions to Türkiye’s democracy struggle, and various events are held throughout Türkiye to preserve his memory.