Ayla Kara

On July 17, 2026, the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Assembly (Mersin Büyükşehir Belediye Meclisi) convened for the second session of its July ordinary meeting. Presided over by the First Deputy Mayor of Mersin, Ali Uyan, in the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Congress and Exhibition Center (Kongre ve Sergi Sarayı Çok Amaçlı Salon), the assembly dealt with a wide array of municipal issues. Among the fifteen items on the agenda—which included twelve items referred to commissions, two departmental proposals, and one out-of-agenda topic—there was one particular proposal that stood out for its emotional and cultural significance. This proposal, put forward by the municipal administration, aimed to bestow meaningful names upon two of the city’s rapidly expanding public reading salons. The assembly members met this proposal with a solemn yet proud atmosphere, recognizing the opportunity to immortalize two figures who have left an indelible mark on the region’s collective memory.

The naming of public spaces in Mersin is often treated with great care, as the local government aims to foster a shared sense of identity and civic pride. During this session, the council members unanimously voted to name two municipal reading salons (okuma salonları) after two highly inspirational women whose lives were cut short under tragic circumstances. The reading salon located on Üniversite Caddesi in Çiftlikköy Mahallesi will formally bear the name of Neptün İpek Yılmaz, a brilliant young student and science enthusiast from Tarsus who captured the hearts of the nation. Meanwhile, the reading salon situated in the Huzurkent Nakliyeciler Sitesi was named in honor of Ayla Kara, a beloved mathematics teacher who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect her middle school pupils during an armed school attack. This decision reflects the municipality’s dedication to honoring local heroes and transforming educational facilities into living monuments of human spirit and sacrifice.

The Legacy of Neptün İpek Yılmaz: Mersin’s Brilliant Star

To understand the significance of naming the Çiftlikköy reading salon after Neptün İpek Yılmaz, one must look back at her extraordinary journey of determination and intellectual passion. Born in the Tarsus district of Mersin, Neptün was diagnosed from a very early age with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 2 and severe scoliosis. These physical ailments confined her to a wheelchair and presented daily challenges that would have deterred most, yet Neptün possessed an incredibly vibrant mind and a fierce curiosity about the universe. Her unwavering interest in physics, space, and cosmology earned her deep respect from her peers and educators at the Tarsus Abdulkerim Bengi Anadolu Lisesi. Because of her profound intellectual capabilities and her physical constraints, she was fondly referred to by many in the Turkish scientific and local communities as “Türkiye’s Stephen Hawking,” a title she wore with humility and immense pride.

Neptün’s crowning achievement came in 2019, when she participated in the national “2.5 Dakikada Ne Bilim” (What Science in 2.5 Minutes) competition, organized jointly by Erciyes University and the Kozmik Anafor Astronomy Platform. In her entry video, which was widely shared and praised, she gave a captivating explanation of the Big Bang Theory and the planet Neptune, displaying a rare talent for scientific communication. Her performance earned her third place in Turkiye (Turkey), bringing immense pride to her home province of Mersin. Determined to pursue her dream of becoming a physicist, she excelled in the national university entrance examinations and successfully secured admission to study Physics (conducted in English) at the prestigious İzmir Institute of Technology (İzmir Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü – İYTE). Her mother, Nilcan Yılmaz, was her constant companion and champion, dedicating her life to supporting her daughter’s academic aspirations.

Tragically, Neptün’s inspiring life came to an end on January 15, 2023, when she passed away after a lifelong battle with SMA and scoliosis. Her departure left a void in the Mersin community, but her legacy of resilience, love for science, and refusal to let physical barriers define her intellect lived on. Recognizing the profound impact she had on local youth, the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality initially opened the “Neptün İpek Yılmaz Reading Salon” in the Çiftlikköy area, near the main entrance of Mersin University, in late 2024. The formal resolution passed during the assembly meeting on July 17, 2026, officially solidifies her status as the permanent namesake of the facility. The reading salon serves as a quiet sanctuary for university students, offering a capacity of 120 students, advanced technical equipment, free high-speed internet, and a diverse library selection. By cementing her name on this academic haven, the city ensures that her story will continue to inspire generations of aspiring scientists who study within its walls.

Teacher Ayla Kara: An Unforgettable Sacrifice in the Name of Education

The second name approved by the assembly, Ayla Kara, carries a different but equally profound emotional weight, representing the pinnacle of professional dedication and maternal bravery. Ayla Kara was a veteran mathematics teacher who had spent over twenty years serving the education community in Turkiye (Turkey). Known for her patient teaching style and her ability to make complex mathematical concepts accessible to young minds, she was highly respected by her colleagues, students, and their families. Over two decades, Teacher Ayla did not merely instruct students in geometry and algebra; she mentored them, shaped their characters, and dedicated her life to helping them build better futures. Her career was a testament to the quiet, vital work of educators who labor daily to elevate society through knowledge.

The trajectory of her life took a tragic and heroic turn on April 16, 2026, during a normal school day at the Ayser Çalık Secondary School (Ayser Çalık Ortaokulu) in the Onikişubat district of Kahramanmaraş. An armed attacker breached the school’s security and opened fire in a classroom full of middle school students. In the face of sudden, mortal danger, and as panic erupted among her young pupils, the 56-year-old mathematics teacher did not flee or seek cover. Acting on pure heroic instinct, Teacher Ayla Kara threw her own body directly into the line of fire, utilizing herself as a physical shield to protect her students from the incoming bullets. Her selfless actions saved the lives of her pupils, but it cost her own, as she was fatally wounded during the assault.

News of her heroism and ultimate sacrifice sent shockwaves across Turkiye (Turkey), uniting the nation in deep mourning and intense admiration. She was hailed nationwide as a martyr of education, a teacher who literally gave her life so that her students could have a future. The decision by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality to name the reading salon at the Huzurkent Nakliyeciler Sitesi after her is a direct response to this legacy. The Huzurkent neighborhood, known for its busy industrial and transit hubs, is home to many families of logistics workers where educational resources are highly valued. By naming this vital study space after Teacher Ayla Kara, the municipality pays a fitting tribute to her courage, ensuring that the students who gather there to build their dreams will always study under the spiritual guidance of a true educational hero.

Fostering Educational Equity: The Expansion of Mersin’s Reading Salons

The naming of these two salons highlights a larger and highly successful initiative by the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality to support students through social municipalism (sosyal belediyecilik). When the current administration first took office, the city of Mersin possessed only a single public reading salon. Under the leadership of Mayor Vahap Seçer, the municipality recognized that access to quiet, safe, and well-equipped study spaces was a critical factor in educational equity. Consequently, they embarked on an ambitious expansion program, increasing the number of reading salons to fourteen across the province. These salons, which include sites such as Merkez Kütüphane, Ada, Tarsus Ötüken, Tarsus Kleopatra, Hal Mahallesi, Halkkent, Güvenevler, Anamur, Gülnar, Bozyazı, and Silifke, have registered more than 80,000 members, turning them into indispensable hubs for the local student population.

These reading salons are meticulously designed to act as a second home for students who may not have a suitable studying environment in their own households or student dormitories. In addition to providing a quiet and comfortable atmosphere, the municipality offers key amenities completely free of charge, such as high-speed wireless internet, printing services, and hot tea or coffee. During the sweltering summer months in Mersin, where high temperatures and humidity make studying at home difficult, these fully air-conditioned spaces become crowded with students preparing for major national examinations like the High School Entrance System (LGS), the Higher Education Institutions Exam (YKS), and the Public Personnel Selection Exam (KPSS). Many of these salons are also strategically located close to “Mahalle Mutfakları” (Neighborhood Kitchens), another municipal initiative where students can purchase a nutritious three-course meal for an extremely affordable price, making their study days both academically and financially manageable.

During the July 17, 2026 assembly session, the council members noted that naming public assets after such highly respected figures is not merely a symbolic gesture but an active educational strategy. By linking these academic spaces to individuals like Neptün İpek Yılmaz and Ayla Kara, the local government provides students with tangible examples of perseverance and moral greatness. When a student enters the Çiftlikköy salon to study physics or walks into the Huzurkent salon to practice mathematics, they are greeted by the names of a girl who conquered a debilitating physical disease through the love of science, and a teacher who valued her students’ lives above her own. This contextual framing elevates the act of studying from a personal chore into a communal honor, motivating the youth of Mersin to pursue their studies with greater depth and purpose.

A Unanimous Civic Vision for the Future of Mersin

The final votes on the proposals to name the reading salons were characterized by a rare and heartwarming sense of political unity, as all political parties represented in the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality Assembly voted in favor of the resolutions. This bipartisan consensus underscores the universal nature of the values represented by Yılmaz and Kara, transcending political differences to focus on what truly unites the community. First Deputy Mayor Ali Uyan, in closing the session, thanked the council members for their sensitivity and solidarity, emphasizing that the city’s greatest strength lies in its human capital and its shared values. The successful conclusion of the second session of the July assembly meeting marks another step forward in Mersin’s journey toward becoming a city that not only builds modern infrastructure but also carefully guards its moral and historical legacy.