Turkish prosecutors request TV broadcasts during Gezi protests to determine 'propaganda'

Istanbul prosecutors have requested media watchdog RTÜK to send records of broadcasts from media outlets that "made propaganda" during the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

Monday February 03 2025 10:16 pm

Thousands of people join Gezi Park protests during 2013, including famous artists.

Duvar English

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has requested the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) to send records of broadcasts from media organizations that allegedly made "propaganda-like broadcasts" during the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

As part of the ongoing investigation in which talent agent Ayşe Barım has been arrested, prosecutors claimed that she coerced famous actors into participating in the widespread Gezi Park protests.

The prosecution claimed that some media outlets portrayed the Gezi Park protests as "legal" and contributed to the spread of social unrest.

According to a report by the news outlet Habertürk, the prosecutor’s office requested RTÜK to identify and submit copies of broadcasts from media organizations accused of “legitimizing the protests” from May 27, 2013, onward.

Once RTÜK delivers the requested records, representatives of certain media outlets may be summoned to testify as suspects before the prosecutor.

However, İlhan Taşçı, RTÜK member from the main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) stated that the media watchdog’s archive did not go back that many years.

Posting on his X account, Taşçı explained, "Only reports or files related to judicial proceedings are preserved. RTÜK regularly keeps records for only one year. After this period, the system gradually deletes the records. Moreover, according to the law, private media service providers are required to store their broadcasts for only one year. Therefore, obtaining such long-term records from broadcasters is not legally feasible."

İstanbul Cumhuriyet Başsavcılığı, Gezi soruşturması kapsamında
televizyonların görüntü kayıtlarını istemiş olsa da RTÜK arşivi bu kadar yıl geriye gitmez. Yalnızca rapora bağlanan veya yargıya konu olan dosyaların kayıtları muhafaza altına alınır.

RTÜK yalnızca bir yıl…
— İlhan Taşcı (@ilhantasci) February 3, 2025

What happened?

Barım, the founder and partner of iD Communication Consultancy, was arrested on Jan. 28 on charges of "attempting to overthrow the government or prevent it from fulfilling its duties" due to her alleged participation in the 2013 Gezi Park protests.

As part of the investigation, numerous famous actors, including Halit Ergenç, Bergüzar Korel, Nehir Erdoğan, Dolunay Soysert, Rıza Kocaoğlu, Mehmet Günsür, Nejat İşler, and Ceyda Düvenci, were questioned as witnesses.

Ergenç and Kocaoğlu stated in their testimonies that Ayşe Barım did not influence them. However, the prosecution launched an investigation against them for "false testimony," alleging that they provided misleading statements to protect the suspect.