Çetin Topçuoğlu

He answered the question "How much support can you provide to this campaign?" on the form prepared for joining the aid fleet to Palestine with "As far as our strength allows." He listed areas where he could assist as "trainer, first aid, sports, organization," and responded to why he wanted to join the fleet with "To show our side like a lame ant."

Born in Adana in 1956, Cetin Topçuoğlu began working as a civil servant at Çukobirlik in 1979 and retired in 1998. He played amateur football at Adana Demir Spor for two years. Starting taekwondo in 1973, Topçuoğlu became world champion several times and received awards. He was selected as referee of the year in 1992 and 1998. He volunteered at IHH and Adana Humanitarian Aid Association, actively participating in humanitarian aid efforts, always standing by the oppressed and the needy. At the Adana Humanitarian Aid Association, he worked with his wife Çiğdem Topçuoğlu in the education, culture, and youth commission, contributing to all activities aimed at young people. His discipline, determination, and desire to fulfill his duties to the best of his ability defined him. He actively participated in all events for Palestine. In the form prepared for joining the aid fleet to Palestine, he answered the question "How much support can you provide to this campaign?" with "As far as our strength allows." He listed areas where he could assist as "trainer, first aid, sports, organization," and responded to why he wanted to join the fleet with "To show our side like a lame ant." In his speech at the funeral of his brother Cumali Topçuoğlu, he expressed his emotions with these words: "Thank you for not leaving us alone and for your efforts to come here. Welcome to our wedding, our happiness, and our joy; I thank you for not sparing your efforts. We remember my brother Çetin with mercy, who made our home a martyr's home and our family a martyr's family. I hope many people will follow the path opened by Çetin brother. I hope this door opened by them will also be granted to the people of Adana and the Turkish nation." Çetin Topçuoğlu, who also participated in the "Open Road to Palestine" convoy organized in 2009, expressed his sadness in footage taken at a meeting upon return: "I am very sorry that I was not among the first to go. But a chance came before us. God helped us. We really wanted to go to Gaza with brother Cihangir. God has granted it to us. My wife and I want to go back to Gaza together. We embarked on this path. In the end, we are ready even for death, my friends." Çetin Topçuoğlu joined the "Our Route is Palestine, Our Load is Humanitarian Aid" fleet with his wife Çiğdem Hanım. His last words while bidding farewell to his friends were, "We became world champions in taekwondo, now, God willing, it's time for the championship in the hereafter."