Mother of a Martyr, Hatice Özkozanoğlu’s Longing for Her Child

During the Operation Euphrates Shield, the mother of Infantry Specialist Sergeant Ziya Özkozanoğlu, who was martyred, relieves the longing for her son on Mother’s Day in a room filled with the belongings left behind by her son. Özkozanoğlu finds solace in the memories of her son.

Memories of the Martyred Son

In 2016, Ziya Özkozanoğlu’s mother, whose son was martyred, alleviates her longing for her son by smelling his military uniform and personal belongings, kissing his photo in the room filled with her son’s clothes. These memories give her strength.

Difficult Mother’s Day

Facing a great longing every Mother’s Day, Hatice Özkozanoğlu somewhat alleviates the longing for her son with her grandson, who bears her son’s name. Not hearing her son’s voice and not being able to hug him deepens her pain even more.

Martyr’s mother Hatice Özkozanoğlu:
“I come to his room. Every morning during prayer, I kiss his picture. I look at his pictures, talk to him, and pray. I wish him to be a neighbor to our Prophet. This Mother’s Day is difficult. I don’t hear his voice. If he were alive, he would call, I would hear his voice. My other son named his son, who was born after my son’s martyrdom, with his brother’s name. I can’t enter this room every day. It is very difficult for me. Sometimes I perform my morning prayer, read my Quran. May Allah grant us the patience of the Prophet. It’s been 8 years. Our hearts burn, it’s unbearable. My parents passed away, but the pain of a child is different. My child went, I became orphaned. When he said ‘mom,’ he used to say another ‘mom.’ He would hug me in the kitchen. He never hurt or upset me. May Allah not hurt him either. If he saw an ant, he would say ‘pass by without crushing it.’ May Allah take him in the best way as He commanded.”

Martyr’s mother Özkozanoğlu, wishing ease to the soldiers on duty, said, “May Allah protect our soldiers. May not a stone touch their nails, I kiss all of them from their eyes. May Allah forgive them to their loved ones.”