Ayşe Barım Appears Before Court for Second Time: Up to 30 Years in Prison Sought
Ayşe Barım, accused of being one of the planners of the Gezi Park protests, has appeared before the court for the second time on charges of “aiding the attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey.” The hearing at Istanbul Courthouse saw famous actors like Bergüzar Korel, Ceyda Düvenci, and Halit Ergenç testify that they went to Gezi Park of their own free will.
The Charges and Trial Process
Barım faces charges of aiding an attempt to overthrow the government at the 27th High Criminal Court in Istanbul, with prosecutors seeking 22 years and 6 months to 30 years in prison. Many actors attended court in support.
Testimonies of Actors
Actors testified that Ayşe Barım did not direct them to join the protests. Hümeyra Akbay said, “Ayşe is apolitical and did not pressure anyone.” Bergüzar Korel stated she went with her husband on her own decision and received no guidance from Barım.
Other Witness Statements
Ceyda Düvenci said she joined for three days of her own initiative. Nejat İşler emphasized that although he has worked with Barım for over 20 years, she cannot “control” him. Other actors like Dolunay Soysert, Halit Ergenç, Mehmet Günsür, Nehir Erdoğan, Rıza Kocaoğlu, Selma Ergeç, Şükran Ovalı, and Zafer Algöz gave similar statements.
Ayşe Barım’s Defense
“Since the age of 19 I’ve only worked and never committed any crime. I’ve been in detention for 248 days and ask myself why. I reject these accusations. I have serious health issues and have lost more than 30 kilos in prison. I want to undergo my surgeries under my own doctor’s supervision and preserve my fundamental right to life.”
She stressed her innocence and described her health problems and difficulties receiving treatment in detention.
