Mahir Ayabak went to Atatürk Airport to defend his country after hearing about the coup attempt from his father. Ayabak became one of the youngest martyrs of July 15th at the age of 17.
He was at the bakery he worked at as a waiter until 11:30 PM on the day of July 15th. His father called him after hearing about the coup attempt and warned him to be careful if he goes outside. Mahir gathered all of his courage and headed to Atatürk Airport to join the resistance against the coup attempt. He met with his friends and went to the runway where civilians were gathered against the coup attempt. He was shot at by FETÖ members three times. He talked to his father after the first bomb attack at 02:30 AM. However, his father did not feel at ease and headed to Istanbul from Antalya. Mahir kept fighting and survived the second attack but he got shot during the third attack and was not able to stand up again. Only 17 years old, he gave his last breath lifting his shahada finger and reciting shahada. Mahir was one of the first and youngest people martyred at the Atatürk Airport.
To streets from the funeral
The coup attempt was not even over yet, when the Ayabak family received the news of their son’s martyrdom. The family went to Taksim Square to defend their democracy after burying Martyr Mahir in the Edirnekapı Martyrs’ Cemetery.
Mahir was born in Bahçelievler, Istanbul in 1999. He dropped out of high school and started working with his father at first and then at a bakery. He learned Russian and German during the period of time he worked in the tourism industry. His dream was to become a jewelry designer.
“If my son hadn’t died, somebody else’s son would have died.”
“I’m young, you are old. I will lead the crowd.” said Mahir, before he was martyred. His mother Muhteber Ayabak, said the following about her son, “My son went to the airport from Şirinevler before stopping by the house first, after he left work that night. He went to fight for his country. I want the killers of my son to be executed. I want justice. Is that traitor a father? Doesn’t he have a son? I will always be proud of my son. But their mothers will be ashamed of them. I will send my other child to fight for his country if necessary. If my son hadn’t died, somebody else’s son would have died.”
The name Martyr Mahir Ayabak was given to an imam hatip middle school in Bitlis and Bahçelievler in Istanbul.
