The family of noncommissioned officer Ömer Halisdemir, who is revered for his attack on one of the putschist generals during a July 15 coup attempt, will take legal action against anyone using their son’s name and photos.
The 42-year-old Halisdemir, an aide to Special Forces Commander Lt. Gen. Zekai Aksakallı, was killed by coup plotters after he shot dead Brig. Gen. Semih Terzi outside command headquarters in Ankara during a failed attempt by the soldiers led by Terzi to seize the building.
Halisdemir is revered for changing the course of the coup attempt through his intervention.
A written statement issued on Wednesday by the governor’s office in Niğde, where Halisdemir’s family lives, said the family has submitted a petition to the office saying that they are against the use of their son’s name and photos in movies and advertisements, and by for-profit organizations and civil society organizations, adding that they will take legal action against anyone or any entity using Halisdemir’s name or photos.
The late Halisdemir’s name and photos have been used extensively since the coup attempt and given to a number of places like schools and parks.