Cem Karaca's friend Cahit Berkay accuses İlkim Karaca: 'That night when Cem fell ill...'

The suspension of the film "Cem Karaca's Tears," which tells the life story of the artist Cem Karaca, by court order is being debated by the public.

Artist Cahit Berkay has joined the polemic between Cem Karaca's son Emrah Karaca and the artist's wife İlkim Karaca.

'INSTEAD OF CALLING A TAXI...'

Referring to Cem Karaca's death on February 8, 2004, Berkay stated, "I cannot help but wonder if Cem would still be with us today if, instead of calling a taxi that night when he fell ill, she had notified Emrah in the apartment across the hall or called an ambulance. The question of how much time was lost while Cem was being carried to the hospital on the driver's back is always on my mind."

'I AM ONE OF THOSE WHO KNOWS HER WELL'

Berkay also called on citizens to support the film:

"I am one of those who knows well what kind of person the woman is who sold Cem Karaca's family heirlooms and his 1/4 rights to his songs the moment she found the opportunity! My request to everyone is this: let us respond to those trying to pull 'Cem Karaca's Tears' from theaters by supporting Cem and the film!"

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Cem Karaca's wife, İlkim Karaca, had applied to the Istanbul Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights Court to stop the screening of the film 'Cem Karaca's Tears,' which is about the artist's life.

Accepting the request, the court decided to stop the screening of the film, which was released on January 26, 2024.

'WHICH DAMAGES WILL THIS COLLATERAL COVER?'

In a press statement regarding the issue, Emrah Karaca, Cem Karaca's son from his marriage to Feride Balkan, said, "3/4 of the rights to my father's works belong to me. This person sold her 1/4 share to a music company in 2018. Despite this, our producers met with her, but when her demand for 16 million TL was not accepted, she became aggressive and did something like this.

With the injunction, if this person deposits 3.5 million TL for this work, which was realized with a 90 million budget, the film will be pulled from theaters. Such collateral is ridiculous for such a large investment; which damages will this collateral cover?"

Emrah Karaca also alleged that the fur hat, cap, and paintings belonging to Cem Karaca were sold online by İlkim Karaca.

'SHE IS SLANDERING WITHOUT SHAME'

Speaking to 12punto, İlkim Karaca said that the allegations made by Emrah Karaca do not reflect the truth.

Karaca said, "They are taking the curse of the oppressed. Baseless slanders are being shamelessly leveled against me in front of millions. I did not sell the paintings belonging to Cem. I have only given them to those who asked for them as keepsakes, that is all. I once wanted to turn Cem Karaca's home into a museum. However, Emrah Karaca opposed this," and added:

"If we can find it, we want to deposit the 3.5 million TL and have the film pulled from theaters."

The entirety of İlkim Karaca's statements is as follows:

"My very dear husband Cem Karaca, as you know, passed away on February 8, 2004. Since that day, I have been subjected to financial, moral, and psychological violence by those who make the noble Turkish people believe in stories that do not exist in reality. Faced with this unfair, rude, and disrespectful attitude, I am seeking my rights for the first time.

Using the film on the agenda as an excuse, they are directly targeting me by saying 'Support Cem Karaca.' In other words, they are openly inciting the public to hatred and hostility. Going even further, they are shamelessly leveling baseless slanders against me in front of millions. They are so blinded that they dare to do this. Yet, for 20 years, they have dictated everything they wanted. Despite obtaining very high benefits, they have constantly played the victim with agitation, and they continue to do so.

They intend to cause severe harm to me and my precious husband Cem Karaca by creating information pollution. If my husband Cem Karaca were alive, these people would not even dare to speak in front of him. Cem would immediately put these insolent people in their place and start a great legal battle, as he had done before.

I want the real story of my husband Cem Karaca to be told while his film is being made. It should not be based on excessive fiction. Let people see that the real Cem Karaca was a masterpiece. Let them know Cem as a whole with his artistic and human aspects, and let Cem be introduced to new generations completely. I will use my legal rights to the fullest in response to the crimes committed against me and the baseless slanders leveled at me."