Gaffar Okkan, who was martyred 23 years ago, commemorated in Diyarbakır: Citizens laid carnations!
A commemoration ceremony was held in Diyarbakır for Police Chief Ali Gaffar Okkan and 5 police officers who were martyred in an armed attack 23 years ago. Citizens laid carnations at the Martyrdom Monument.
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The Diyarbakır Provincial Police Department held a commemoration ceremony on Sezai Karakoç Boulevard in the central Yenişehir district, the site of the attack, for Gaffar Okkan and police officers Mehmet Kamalı, Sabri Kün, Mehmet Sepetçi, Atilla Durmuş, and Selahattin Baysoy, who were martyred on January 24, 2001.
Veterans, police officers, and citizens who attended the ceremony laid carnations at the Martyrdom Monument. Photographs of Okkan were hung on the balconies and windows of some buildings.
In his speech at the ceremony, Provincial Police Chief Fatih Kaya stated that they commemorate Okkan and his comrades-in-arms, who fell as martyrs as a result of a treacherous attack 23 years ago, with gratitude and longing at the very spot where they reached the rank of martyrdom.
Stating that Sakarya's beloved son and Diyarbakır's "Father Gaffar" showed the state's embracing and compassionate face to the public during his tenure, Kaya said:
"He built a bridge of brotherhood from heart to heart. The bond of affection our martyred police chief established with the people of Diyarbakır did not go unrequited. The people of Diyarbakır embraced their 'Father Gaffar' and showed their loyalty by giving his name to their children. Those who targeted the unity of the state and nation, leading to the martyrdom of Ali Gaffar Okkan and his comrades-in-arms, have not achieved their goals and never will. The seeds of love that the late chief sowed in these ancient lands have flourished in fertile hearts, further strengthening the environment of peace and security we live in today."
Expressing that Okkan succeeded in touching people's hearts and winning their sincere love, Kaya stated that they are aware of and determined to perform their duties by following his legacy and with the love and support of the public.
Kaya said, "I would like to specifically express that serving in Sakarya, where the late chief was born, and in Diyarbakır, where he was martyred, is a distinct honor for me. I commemorate with mercy all our martyrs, especially the founder of our Republic, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, as well as Okkan and his comrades-in-arms, who willingly sacrificed their lives to protect the survival of our country and the life, property, and honor of our nation, and I express my gratitude to our living veterans."
The ceremony was attended by Kayapınar District Governor Arif Karaman, Yenişehir District Governor Murat Beşikci, Bağlar District Governor İsmail Pendik, Çınar District Governor Muhammed Fatih Günlü, and citizens.