Gezi Park protest charge: Talent management mogul Ayse Barim arrested

Ayse Barim, the manager of numerous prominent figures in the Turkish film and TV industry, has been arrested in connection with her alleged involvement in the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

Barim, who is accused of monopolizing the entertainment industry, was taken into custody following an investigation triggered by allegations in the written and visual media.

Investigation into monopolization of entertainment industry

Ayse Barim, founder and partner of ID Communication, a company representing some of Türkiye’s top TV and film stars, has been under investigation due to accusations of monopolizing the industry.

She is also facing claims of being one of the orchestrators of the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which led to nationwide unrest and billions of dollars worth of damages to private and public property.

Authorities searched Barim’s office in Besiktas, Istanbul, where documents were confiscated for further investigation. The search, lasting eight hours, was conducted under the supervision of Istanbul’s Deputy Chief Public Prosecutor Can Tuncay, Prosecutor Furkan Kafali, and Deputy Director of Istanbul’s Provincial Police Department Kadir Arslan.

These documents were taken to the Istanbul police headquarters for review.

‘Attempt to overthrow the government’ charge

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement following Barim’s arrest, noting that she had maintained extensive communication with key figures involved in the Gezi Park protests, including Mehmet Osman Kavala, Cigdem Mater Utku and Memet Ali Alabora.

According to the statement, during the initial days of the Gezi protests, which took place from May 29 to June 2, 2013, Barim was found to have directed her clients—artists represented by her company—to participate in the protests.

Additionally, Barim herself allegedly joined the protests, playing a key role in organizing them. As a result, she was arrested on charges of “Attempting to Overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey or Preventing It from Performing Its Duties.”

‘Coup’ allegation

Barim is now facing a formal investigation for attempting to overthrow the government due to her alleged involvement in the Gezi Park protests. The investigation, triggered by recent media reports, is a separate case from one initiated earlier regarding the monopolization of the television industry.

The initial investigation had led to claims of “workforce freedom violations” and “extortion” against Barim, prompting a travel ban.

Notably, several figures from the Turkish entertainment industry, including actors Serenay Sarikaya and Nedim Saban, were questioned as witnesses, and actress Deniz Isin was heard as a victim in this case.

Direct involvement in protests

The prosecutor’s office highlighted Barim’s significant role in encouraging artists to take part in the protests. She allegedly communicated with several artists between May 29 and June 2, 2013, urging them to join the events in Gezi Park. Furthermore, it is claimed that she personally participated in the protests alongside the artists she represented.

In one of the conversations, Barim allegedly discussed the publication of a statement regarding the Gezi protests with the fugitive defendant and actor Alabora. The statement was considered to potentially harm their cause if released prematurely, and discussions revolved around timing its release for maximum impact.