Osman Sefa Karslı (21), the son of Ali Karslı, who was killed while trying to protect Türksat during the treacherous coup attempt by the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETÖ) on 15 July, continues to fulfill his martyred father’s duty.
Employed at Türksat, Karslı expressed his pride in working at an institution filled with memories of his father.
During the coup attempt, soldiers who were members of FETÖ were trying to interrupt the television broadcasts. While trying to stop the coup plotters Ali Karslı and Ahmet Özsoy became martyrs as a result of gun fire opened on Türksat. Karslı’s son, Osman Sefa Karslı stated that the coup attempt should not be forgotten, and that it is very important for them to relay this event to future generations.
Karslı stated that at the time they were living at Türksat’s lodging complex and that they were informed about the coup attempt by their father on the telephone. Initially, they thought about going to the General Staff after hearing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s announcement, but upon hearing that Türksat was also under threat they rushed from their home to the main entrance.
Karsli continued his words as follows:
“My father went to the main entrance. We stayed at the lodging area’s main entrance. Since I was continuously following the news on my phone, I remember the time very well. At 12:47 helicopters flew above us and started to open fire on us. We hid in the entrance. At 12:52 AM my father called and told us to go home. He was martyred at 12:54 AM.”
Stating that his father had become a martyr as a result of the coup-plotters opening fire at the main entrance, Karslı stated that when they arrived home they had heard gunshots but could not have predicted that one of those bullets had hit their father.
“We are in a deep state of sorrow but we are proud”
Karsli said that they tried calling his father for two hours during which the soldiers came to the apartment and said, “We will bomb this place. Get out!”
Karslı said that after hiding for a while, they had left the lodging area and with the help of their neighbors they took refuge somewhere nearby. They said that they were informed about their father’s martyrdom towards the morning at the hospital.
Karsli said, “Of course we are in a deep state of sorrow but we are proud. Whatever happens, we will hold our heads high. When we go to visit his grave, we say ‘May God bless you’ I wish everyone could go to the grave of their loved ones with this feeling.”
“Everyone will get what they deserve”
Regarding the prosecution of members of FETÖ who took part in the coup attempt, Osman Karslı said, “They will eventually appear before justice, justice will be served. Everyone will get what they deserve.”
Stating that being employed by the institution that his martyred father worked in, gives him pride. Karslı added:
"God bless them, they looked out for us. They told me they will also support my younger brother who is studying in college. They are true to their word. May God be pleased with all of them. I am proud to work at Türksat. This institution was not demolished because of my father and Uncle Ahmet (Martyr Ahmet Özsoy). May God bless our other martyrs; it is because of their heroism the country did not crumble. I cannot describe the feeling of working there. It is a beautiful feeling. "
Karslı noted that he works as technical staff at Türksat while continuing his education at the Open Education Faculty.
“They saved the country from the worst”
Karsli emphasized that although the first year of 15 July is approaching, the wounds are still fresh, he said:
“When I think about 15 July, it feels like it happened last week. Bad things happened. We saw a war, and at the end of this war we lost the one person we looked up to, our father. It’s hard, really hard. God does not give anyone burden that they cannot handle. By gaining strength from this, by saying “We can go through this” we are trying to continue our life worthy as a martyr’s family and child. It has been a very difficult year. Of course, we will all have an end, but I hope it will be like my father. I pray to die as a martyr, like my father.”
Karslı stated that, those who were martyred or became veterans that night, “Saved the country from the worst!” He added, “May God bless each and every one of them.” He continued by saying, “How a person works regarding personal matters, works with the same effort when it comes to their country. These people taught us this. We will try to complete our remaining lifetime by using them as examples.”