An Istanbul court has sentenced a prominent television talent manager to 12 years and six months in prison for “seeking to overthrow the government” during Turkey’s 2013 Gezi protests.
State news agency Anadolu reported that Ayse Barim, 55, was convicted on Wednesday. Prosecutors had asked the court to impose a life sentence.
Barim has denied the charges since her arrest in January 2025.
Prosecutors accused her of encouraging actors she managed to join the protests, which began in Istanbul and later spread across the country.
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The Gezi protests started over plans to redevelop a public park in Istanbul. They quickly grew into nationwide demonstrations against then Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who is now president.
Barim was briefly released in October due to reported health concerns but was re-arrested a day later.
The case is one of several linked to the 2013 unrest, which marked one of the biggest challenges to Turkey’s government in recent history.
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