Politics and the business world meet at Limak's 50th-anniversary concert in Bodrum: Akbelen debate back on the agenda

The concert held at the Bodrum Antique Theatre for Limak Holding's 50th anniversary made headlines not only for its program on stage but also for the representatives from the worlds of politics and business who appeared in the protocol. According to information compiled by soL Haber, the Limak Philharmonic Orchestra performed under the direction of conductor Darko Butorac, with tenor Murat Karahan and soprano Tamara Radjenovic also featured in the program.

It was reported that the concert's guests included Limak Holding Honorary Chairman Nihat Özdemir and Limak Holding Chairperson Ebru Özdemir, as well as AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik, Demirören Holding Chairman Yıldırım Demirören, former EU Minister Volkan Bozkır, TFF Board Member Hasan Surözü, Aksoy Holding Founding Chairman Erdal Aksoy, Prof. Dr. Osman Müftüoğlu, Gani Müjde, and Kütahya Porselen Chairman Nafi Güral.

PROTOCOL LIST DRAWS ATTENTION

The compilation noted that AKP Spokesperson Ömer Çelik sat next to Nihat Özdemir and Yıldırım Demirören, and that Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek's wife, Esra Şimşek, was seen with Ebru Özdemir during the evening. It was also stated that Central Bank Governor Fatih Karahan was among the guests with his wife.

It was recalled that in his column about the concert, Ertuğrul Özkök mentioned the presence of Nihat Özdemir and Ebru Özdemir and included a brief anecdote about the score of a Fenerbahçe match during the intermission. soL Haber emphasized that the evening was particularly noteworthy in terms of political, bureaucratic, and capital circles.

The compilation, which cited a report by Necla Dalan from Patronlar Dünyası, noted that Club Flipper owner Ahmet Bayer and former Denizbank General Manager Hakan Ateş were also among the guests. It was recalled that Bayer is set to be retried after the Court of Cassation overturned the acquittal in the case regarding the death of model Aslı Baş, and that Ateş had come to public attention during the Seçil Erzan case process.

CONCERT REVENUE AND THE AKBELEN DEBATE

It was reported that in her speech during the evening, Limak Group of Companies and Limak Foundation Chairperson Ebru Özdemir said that instead of fitting 50 years into a single celebration, they preferred to meet around the "unifying power of music." It was announced that the concert proceeds would be donated to the "Turkey's Engineer Girls" project.

However, in the soL Haber compilation, this emphasis on social responsibility was evaluated alongside the events in Akbelen. Tree felling in the Akbelen Forest and the resistance of villagers due to mining activities carried out by Limak in the region have long been a subject of public debate.

The compilation included information that Akbelen activist Esra Işık spent 42 days in prison on charges of "resisting to prevent the performance of duty" while defending her land and village. In this context, it was stated that the company's messages of supporting culture, arts, and female engineers were being discussed alongside the environmental struggle in Akbelen.

Another point of criticism directed at Limak and Ebru Özdemir was the claim of representation in the field of nature conservation. The report recalled that while tree felling in Akbelen was on the agenda, Ebru Özdemir's membership in the WWF Turkey Board of Trustees had sparked controversy, and that following public backlash, the foundation announced that it was terminating this relationship, stating that it did not align with the principles of Özdemir's professional activities.

While the concert in Bodrum was presented as an arts program and a charity event, the soL Haber compilation argued that the evening should be read in conjunction with its VIP list, political connections, and the environmental struggle in Akbelen. Thus, Limak's 50th-anniversary event transcended the cultural and artistic agenda to become a topic where public, capital, and environmental debates intersect.

News Source: 12punto