Aggravated life sentence requested for Ayşe Barım

The prosecution has announced its final opinion regarding Barım. With the change in the legal classification of the crime, an aggravated life sentence has been requested.

The prosecution submitted its final opinion regarding talent manager Ayşe Barım, who was arrested on charges of directing artists during the Gezi Park protests and was released on the 248th day of her detention.

Although the investigation prosecutor had requested a sentence in the indictment for "aiding and abetting an attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey or to prevent it from performing its duties, in whole or in part," the trial prosecutor has requested that Barım be sentenced to aggravated life imprisonment for the crime of "attempting to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey."

In its final opinion, the prosecution alleged that Ayşe Barım engaged in planning, organizing, and directing activities through artists during the Gezi Park protests 12 years ago, managed the process on social media and on the ground, and participated in the crime of attempting to overthrow the government.

"GEZI PROTESTS WERE CONDUCTED IN A PLANNED AND SYSTEMATIC MANNER"

The final opinion argued that the Gezi Park protests were conducted in a systematic and planned manner as part of an organization. It was stated that the defendant, Ayşe Barım, exercised will on social media and on the ground on behalf of artists and actors who were sympathetic to the public and had high potential to lead the masses, and engaged in planning, organizing, and directing activities.

It was emphasized that although there was no record of prior communication between Barım and the main actors of the Gezi Park protests, she established frequent and systematic contact during the preparation and initial stages of the protests, and these meetings could not be considered coincidental.

"COURT OF CASSATION RULING ALSO TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT"

The final opinion stated that Barım, who is alleged to have acted in concert with Osman Kavala, Mehmet Ali Alabora, and Çiğdem Mater Utku, engaged in active planning, organizing, and directing activities on behalf of the artist community during the Gezi Park events. Taking into account the ruling of the 3rd Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation with file number 2023/12611 and decision number 2023/6359, it was stated that the actions constituted the crime of "attempting to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey."

The final hearing of the case will be held tomorrow.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

Talent manager and owner of ID İletişim, Ayşe Barım, who was arrested on charges of "aiding and abetting an attempt to overthrow the Government of the Republic of Turkey by using force and violence or to prevent it from performing its duties, in whole or in part" by directing artists during the Gezi Park protests and was being tried with a request for up to 30 years in prison, was released by the Istanbul 26th High Criminal Court on October 1. Barım, for whom judicial control measures in the form of house arrest and a travel ban were also decided, regained her freedom on the 248th day of her detention.

News Source: 12punto