Ayşe Barım, facing aggravated life imprisonment, at the courthouse: Verdict expected today

Talent manager Ayşe Barım, who is being tried on allegations of organizing and directing artists during the Gezi Park protests, will appear in court today for her final hearing. The prosecution, while presenting its final opinion on the case, changed the scope of the charges against Barım, who was released on the 248th day of her detention, and requested an aggravated life sentence.

CHANGE IN THE NATURE OF THE CHARGE

In the indictment prepared during the investigation process, a sentence was requested for Barım for the crime of "aiding in the attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey or to partially or completely prevent it from performing its duties." However, the trial prosecutor argued in the final opinion that Barım's actions could not be considered within the scope of "aiding." In this context, the prosecution requested that she be sentenced directly to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "attempting to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey."

ARRIVED AT THE COURTHOUSE

Ayşe Barım, who faces an aggravated life sentence, has arrived at the Istanbul Courthouse for the final hearing.

ALLEGATIONS OF ORGANIZATION THROUGH ARTISTS

In the prosecution's final opinion, it was claimed that the Gezi Park protests from 12 years ago were carried out in a systematic and planned manner within a specific organizational framework. It was alleged that Barım took initiative both on social media and in the field on behalf of artists and actors who have influence in society and the power to affect large masses.

The opinion included the argument that Barım carried out planning, organization, and directing activities through artists, and that by coordinating the process, she participated in the crime of attempting to overthrow the government.

EMPHASIS ON "COINCIDENCE"

Evaluating the communication records in the file, the prosecution stated that no communication records were found between Barım and the prominent figures of Gezi Park regarding the period before the events. However, the opinion stated that the intense and regular contact established during the preparation and initial stages of the actions could not be considered "coincidental."

KAVALA VERDICT CITED AS BASIS

The final opinion also included the allegation that Ayşe Barım acted in concert with Osman Kavala, Mehmet Ali Alabora, and Çiğdem Mater Utku. Regarding the sentence requested for Barım, who is alleged to have carried out active planning and organization on behalf of the art community, the ruling of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation, numbered 2023/12611 Basis and 2023/6359 Decision, was cited as the basis. Referring to the aforementioned decision, it was stated that the actions constituted the crime of "attempting to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey."

THE AYŞE BARIM CASE

Talent manager Ayşe Barım, founder of ID İletişim, was arrested on charges of "aiding in the attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey or to partially or completely prevent it from performing its duties by using force and violence," and a lawsuit was filed against her with a request for up to 30 years in prison. In the case heard at the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court, Barım was released on October 1, on the 248th day of her detention.

While judicial control measures such as house arrest and a travel ban remain in effect for Barım, the final hearing of the case will take place today.

News Source: 12punto