Aydın Çopur was a Turkish industrial engineer who was killed in front of the Presidential Complex during the failed military coup attempt of 15 July 2016. At the age of eight, while visiting his father’s place of duty, he decided to become a soldier.^【1】

Aydın Çopur was born on 1 January 1990 in Çankırı. Çopur, whose hometown is Çankırı, never married.

At the age of eight, he visited a military unit where his father, retired non-commissioned officer Nurettin Çopur, was serving and decided after this visit to pursue a military career.^【2】

Despite initial opposition from his father Nurettin Çopur, he persisted in his goal of a military career and gained admission to Işıklar Military High School after succeeding in the 2003 entrance examinations. He entered the school in the aviation class with the aim of becoming a pilot. Due to various difficulties encountered during his education, he repeatedly requested to leave the school but, motivated by his father’s concern that his grades would decline and through his father’s guidance, he completed his studies with an additional year of schooling.^【3】

After graduating from military high school, he was directed to the Army War School instead of the Air Force War School due to an eye condition. He received training at the Army War School for six months. During this period, he was subjected to pressure and intimidation from officers affiliated with FETÖ who held positions within military schools, forcing him to leave the institution in 2009. Following his departure, he was awarded 75,000 TL in compensation.^{【4】【5】}

After leaving the military school, Çopur turned to civilian education and enrolled in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of Kırıkkale University, from which he graduated. After graduation, he was awaiting the announcement of the results of the Public Personnel Selection Examination (KPSS) to begin his professional career.

On 15 July 2016, Aydın Çopur traveled to Ankara to visit his cousin, who lived there, and to sightsee. That same evening, following the outbreak of the military coup attempt and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s call to the public, he went out onto the streets with his cousin.

First arriving at the AK Party Headquarters, Çopur called his father in Çankırı around midnight, informing him of the situation on the ground. He reported that the police officers present had warned him and others, “We cannot guarantee your safety, please leave.” He initially agreed to his father’s request to return home but shortly afterward called his father again, saying, “Dad, if I don’t do something today for my country and my flag, when will I ever do it? Forgive me.” ^{【6】【7】}

Despite warnings from police officers on the scene, he refused to leave the area, telling his cousin, “I will not leave. I must be here for my faith, my flag, and my homeland. If I am not here today, when will I be?” He moved toward the Presidential Complex (Beştepe). He was struck by gunfire from soldiers involved in the coup attempt and was killed at the age of 26.

After the coup attempt was suppressed, Aydın Çopur’s funeral was held on 16 July 2016 and he was buried in the cemetery in his hometown of Çankırı.

Following his death, the name of Aydın Çopur was given to a conference hall at Kırıkkale University, the institution from which he graduated. Additionally, an Imam Hatip middle school operating in Kırıkkale was renamed “Şehit Aydın Çopur Imam Hatip Middle School” to institutionalize his memory.