Wife of July 15th martyr Sertbaş: ‘There is both sorrow, longing, and pride’

A ceremony was held at Biruni University on July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day to commemorate the martyrs. Speaking at the ceremony, Rahşan Sertbaş, the wife of martyr Mete Sertbaş, said, ‘My husband gave up on me and our children, whom he loved more than his own life, but he did not allow the treacherous hand to touch his homeland.’

The commemoration ceremony held at Biruni University Congress Center was attended by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Sevim Savaşer, Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Adnan Ömerustaoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Pharmacy İsmail Tuncer Değim, Ilhami Çil, a member of the Board of Directors of July 15 Association, Rahşan Sertbaş, the wife of July 15 martyr Mete Sertbaş, academicians, and administrative staff.

During the ceremony, a minute of silence was observed to commemorate the citizens who were martyred in the treacherous coup attempt on July 15, 2016. The Qur’an was recited for the martyrs. Additionally, documentary screenings symbolizing the nation’s determination to uphold democracy that night and shared memories took place. Hanım İlayda Çelik, a student from the Faculty of Medicine, also recited a poem about July 15.

‘This land is ours for eternity’
Dean of the Faculty of Education Prof. Dr. Adnan Ömer Ustaoğlu said in his speech, ‘Today we are commemorating July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day. There are important days in the history of nations. But when it comes to the Turkish nation, we see that the number of such days is quite high. Today, Turkey is a country waging a hot war on 4 fronts and a cold war on 21 fronts. We disturb many people. They act accordingly. That’s why our martyrs never end. There are such sacrificers. Let the unity of the nation not be broken. Let the nation’s determination not be shattered. If unity is not broken, determination is not shattered, as Alparslan said, ‘This land is ours for eternity,” he said.

‘We were one nation and one heart’
Ilhami Çil, a member of the Board of Directors of July 15 Association, who stated that they still live the night of July 15, said, ‘That day, as we walked towards the bridge, we did not know any of the friends beside us. As we walked arm in arm towards the bridge, reciting the declaration of faith and takbirs, none of our walking brothers knew each other. But we were one heart. That day, we were one nation and one heart. We became people who think of their homeland, think of their nation. We kept our word. We will continue to keep our word until we die. My intention is clear. My flag, my nation, my state are my red lines. Let it be a red line for all of us,’ he said.

‘The treacherous captain shot him as he turned around’
Rahşan Sertbaş, the wife of Mete Sertbaş, the neighborhood headman who was martyred on July 15, said, ‘Mete came home at 8:00 p.m. He sat down, had dinner with the children. Then he said soldiers were on the bridge and a phone call came. He told us to stay at home. I told him ‘be careful’ three times. Mete headed towards the metrobus. A phone call came. As he walked towards the neighborhood headman’s office, soldiers surrounded him in a circle in front of a pastry shop. Mete said, ‘Commander, return to your barracks, what are you doing here.’ As he turned around, the treacherous captain shot him. There is a site on the side. A girl in the site tells her father to call an ambulance. The treacherous captain says ‘No, he will stay here’ and extends his leg. Mete stays there for 2 hours,’ she said.

‘There is both sorrow, longing, and pride’
Continuing her speech, Sertbaş said, ‘This year marks the 8th year since his departure from us. There is both sorrow, longing, and pride. That night, all of us have a past full of heroic epics. We show the world how we defended our homeland. My husband gave up on me and our children, whom he loved more than his own life, but he did not allow the treacherous hand to touch his homeland. On this day where sorrow and pride are experienced at the same time, no victory has ever been served on a silver platter. Behind every victory, there is a sacrifice,’ she said.