Mahir Ayabak (1999–2016), the military coup attempt of 15 July 2016, was a Turkish citizen who lost his life during the civilian resistance at Atatürk Airport in Istanbul, shot by forces involved in the coup attempt^【1】

Mahir Ayabak was born on 1 January 1999 ^【2】in the Bahçelievler district of Istanbul. A member of a family originally from Bitlis, Ayabak was one of four children.

His father, Zahir Ayabak, is a merchant active in the cargo and logistics sector. Ayabak’s birth coincided with the third day of an earthquake that had struck the region and the time of the morning call to prayer. Known within his family for his harmonious personality, Ayabak grew up with the goal of following in his father’s footsteps and establishing himself in the business world.^【3】

Ayabak began his education in Istanbul but later decided not to continue with high school, opting instead to pursue his studies through open education. Preferring practical work experience over formal academic training, he focused particularly on language learning during this period.

While working in the tourism sector, he attained proficiency in Russian, German, and Persian. Despite leaving formal education incomplete, he planned to expand his commercial and linguistic skills internationally and had begun preparations in October 2016 to establish a business with his father in Lille, France.^【4】

Ayabak began his working life assisting his father in the cargo business and later worked as a waiter in a café. During summer months, he gained experience in the family business in Antalya, which specialized in the trade of home textiles, towels, and bathrobes.

Among his professional aspirations were fashion design and jewelry creation, but his primary goal was to become a successful merchant. Another personal ideal was to fulfill his military service as a commando. To prepare for this, he built his own exercise equipment and regularly trained physically, expressing his desire to join the army as soon as he reached the required age.^【5】

On the night of 15 July 2016, when the coup attempt began, Mahir Ayabak had just finished his shift as a waiter at the café at around 11:30 p.m. Following the President’s call for civilians to take to the streets, Ayabak walked from his neighborhood of Güneşli toward Atatürk Airport.^【6】

Upon reaching the airport complex, he joined a group of civilians attempting to reclaim the control tower from the coup forces. During this effort, he played an active role in neutralizing one of the coup elements and handing him over to security forces.^【7】

During the ongoing civilian resistance at the Atatürk Airport runway and control tower area, civilians were subjected to three separate rounds of gunfire by coup forces. Mahir Ayabak survived the first two attacks without injury but sustained fatal wounds during the third assault, caused by fire from a tank or long-barreled weapons. In his final moments, he recited the Shahada and passed away.^【8】

The body of Martyr Mahir Ayabak was retrieved from the morgue by his family after identification. His funeral was held at the Edirnekapı Martyrs’ Cemetery in Istanbul.

Following the burial, Ayabak’s family went to Taksim Square to join the democracy vigils and continue the spirit of civilian resistance. In honor of his memory, Mahir Ayabak’s name has been given to Imam Hatip middle schools in Bahçelievler, Istanbul, and in Bitlis.^【9】