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An Istanbul court on Wednesday sentenced a prominent TV talent manager to 12.5 years behind bars for "seeking to overthrow the government" during street protests that swept Türkiye in 2013, state news agency Anadolu reported.
Prosecutors had called for Ayse Barim, 55, to face life in jail for an alleged attempt to bring down the government, charges she has repeatedly denied since her arrest in January 2025.
Barim, founder of ID Consulting Ltd., was taken into custody in January on allegations that she played a role in mobilizing actors during the Gezi Park protests. She had been detained since late January in Marmara Prison.
The investigation has also extended to some of the actors who testified in her defense. Prosecutors accused Halit Ergenc and Riza Kocaoglu of providing evasive answers to shield Barim, opening separate cases for alleged perjury. Both received prison sentences, though the court postponed the announcement of the verdicts.
Prosecutors had accused her of "pushing" her actors to take part in the rallies.
On October 3, 2025, Istanbul’s 27th High Criminal Court overturned the earlier release decision following a prosecutor’s appeal. The court issued a new arrest warrant for Barim, who faces charges of directing actors to attend the Gezi Park demonstrations and being among the alleged organizers.
Barim has not yet been taken into custody, but with the new ruling, she now faces re-arrest while standing trial on charges carrying a potential sentence of 22 years and six months to 30 years in prison.
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