Martyred Diplomats

In Memory of Our Martyred Diplomats

Each year on March 18, we honor the memory of Turkish diplomats and public officials who were martyred in targeted assassinations while serving at our missions abroad.

Their sacrifice stands as a powerful reminder of the risks faced by those who represent our nation with honor and dedication, even under threat. We remember them with profound respect, gratitude, and a deep sense of responsibility.

List of Martyred Turkish Diplomats and Public Officials

Below is the list of Turkish diplomats and public servants who were martyred in targeted attacks while serving abroad. We honor their memory and acknowledge their service and sacrifice on behalf of the Republic of Türkiye.

Mehmet BAYDAR Consul General in Los Angeles	Santa Barbara 27.01.1973
Bahadır DEMİR Consul General of the Consulate General in Los Angeles	Santa Barbara 27.01.1973
Daniş TUNALIGİL Ambassador to Vienna	Vienna 22.10.1975
İsmail EREZ Ambassador to Paris	Paris 24.10.1975
Talip YENER Executive Driver of Embassy in Paris	Paris 24.10.1975
Oktar CİRİT First Secretary of the Embassy in Beirut	Beirut 16.02.1976
Taha CARIM Ambassador to the Vatican	Roma 09.06.1977
Necla KUNERALP, wife of the late Zeki Kuneralp, Ambassador to Madrid	Madrid 02.06.1978
Beşir BALCIOĞLU Retired Ambassador	Madrid 02.06.1978
Ahmet BENLER is the son of the late Özdemir Benler, Ambassador to The Hague	The Hague 12.10.1979
Yılmaz ÇOLPAN Tourism Counselor of the Embassy of Paris	Paris 22.12.1979
Galip ÖZMEN Administrative Attaché of the Embassy in Athens	Athens 31.07.1980
Neslihan ÖZMEN Daughter of Galip Özmen, Administrative Attaché of the Embassy in Athens	Athens 31.07.1980
Şarık ARIYAK Consul General in Sydney	Sydney 17.12.1980
Engin SEVER Security Attaché of the Consulate General of Sydney	Sydney 17.12.1980
Reşat MORALI Labor Counsellor of the Embassy in Paris	Paris 04.03.1981
Tecelli ARI is a Religious Officer affiliated with the Embassy in Paris	Paris 04.03.1981
Mehmet Savaş YERGÜZ Contracted Secretary of the Consulate General in Geneva	Geneva 09.06.1981
Cemal ÖZEN Security Attaché of the Consulate General of Paris	Paris 24.09.1981
Kemal ARIKAN Consul General in Los Angeles	Los Angeles 28.01.1982
Orhan GÜNDÜZ Honorary Consul General in Boston	Boston 04.05.1982
Erkut AKBAY Administrative Attaché of the Embassy in Lisbon	Lisbon 07.06.1982
Nadide AKBAYThe wife of Erkut Akbay, Administrative Attaché of the Embassy of Lisbon / Contracted Secretary of the Embassy in Lisbon	Place and Date of Assassination: Lisbon, 07.06.1982 Place and Date of Martyrdom: Ankara, 08.01.1983
Colonel Atilla ALTIKAT Military Attaché of the Embassy in Ottawa	Ottawa 27.08.1982
Bora SÜELKAN Administrative Attaché of the Consulate General of Burgas	Burgas 09.09.1982
Ahmet Galip BALKAR Ambassador to Belgrade Place and Date of Assassination: Belgrade, 09.03.1983	Martyrdom Date: 11.03.1983
Dursun AKSOY Administrative Attaché of the Embassy in Brussels	Brussels 14.07.1983
Cahide MIHÇIOĞLU is the wife of Lisbon Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Undersecretary Yurtsev Mıhçıoğlu	Lisbon 27.07.1983
Işık YÖNDER Wife of Şadiye Yönder, Contracted Secretary at our Embassy in Tehran	Tehran 28.04.1984
Erdoğan ÖZEN Acting Labor Counsellor of the Embassy in Vienna	Vienna 20.06.1984
Evner ERGUN International Officer-Deputy Director at the UN Office in Vienna	Vienna 19.11.1984
Çetin MANNERS Press Attaché of the Embassy in Athens	Athens 07.10.1991
Çağlar YÜCEL Administrative Attaché of the Embassy in Baghdad	Baghdad 11.12.1993
Ömer Haluk SİPAHİOĞLU Undersecretary of the Embassy in Athens	Athens 04.07.1994
Nihat AKBAŞ Chief Inspector at the Embassy in Baghdad	Mosul 17.12.2004
Bilal ÜRGENCominth Commissioner at the Embassy of Baghdad	Mosul 17.12.2004
Adem ÇİÇEK Police Officer at the Embassy in Baghdad	Mosul 17.12.2004
Bülent KIRANŞALCompany Police Officer at the Embassy of Baghdad	Mosul 17.12.2004
SüleymanKARAHASANOĞLUCompany Police Officer at the Embassy in Baghdad	Mosul 17.12.2004
Sinan YILMAZMogadisu Embassy Police Officer	Mogadişu 27.07.2013
Osman KÖSEECombudsman of the Consulate General of Erbil	Erbil 17.07.2019

We Will Never Forget

These individuals gave their lives in service of their country. Their legacies continue to inspire generations of Turkish diplomats and public officials. We commemorate them not only with words, but with our continued commitment to the principles they upheld.

Martyred Diplomats

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