Dismissive remarks by Director Akin towards Turkey's leadership, accusing them of acting like mobsters due to the recent arrests.

Germano-Turkish auteur Fatih Akin slams Turkish authorities for arrest of his agent

In a candid conversation with AFP, Fatih Akin, the acclaimed German-Turkish filmmaker, expressed his outrage over the detention of his agent, Ayse Barim. Akin described Barim as "completely apolitical" and "innocent" of the charges related to protests over a decade ago.

"If they imprison her, what on earth is happening?" Akin questioned. "So I'd best steer clear. I don't fancy taking any risks."

Barim, a 56-year-old talent manager, was apprehended in January. Beyond allegations of organizing the 2013 Gezi Park protests, which were major anti-government demonstrations against the administration of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, she's been accused of "inciting" her clients, including some of Turkey's most prominent celebrities, to participate. Barim denies these claims.

The initial protest, which aimed to save a few trees in a central Istanbul park, intensified into nationwide protests that drew hundreds of thousands onto the streets.

Hamburg-born Akin, whose latest film "Amrun" premiered at the Cannes film festival, stated, "Officially, there's no warrant for me."

"But to be frank, I'm not entirely sure," he added, expressing concerns that, given Turkey's current climate, anything could happen. "They follow a different set of principles, and it's disconcerting."

Opposition suppressed

"Certain politicians aren't even hesitant to wage war if it benefits them to maintain power," Akin asserted. "And Erdogan is one of them."

Since the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem Imamoglu on corruption charges in March, Turkey has experienced the largest wave of protests since Gezi. The popular mayor, Erdogan's most significant political rival, is viewed by the opposition and rights groups as a political prisoner, being detained to prevent him from running against the president in 2028 elections.

Approximately 2,000 people, including journalists, have been arrested amid the crackdown on dissent since, with Imamoglu's X account blocked.

Akin observed that part of the case against Barim stemmed from her frequent communication with jailed liberal philanthropist Osman Kavala, who received a life sentence in 2022.

"Those thirty-nine times [of communication] were due to my film 'The Cut,'" Akin explained, as Kavala financed part of the production, and Barim managed Akin. As a result, they communicated, and both now find themselves imprisoned. "I'm the connecting factor," he stated.

Barim, a far cry from an activist, was merely an agent and talent manager, according to Akin. "She's a neoliberal capitalist, for heaven's sake," he declared.

The Golden Globe and Golden Bear laureate, 51, suspected that Turkish prosecutors might try to implicate him in a plot aimed at overthrowing Erdogan.

"Many people are proud of me for portraying Turkish culture and the diaspora," Akin reflected. "But these people don't care about that."

Turkish authorities have a history of antagonizing journalists, lawyers, celebrities, and elected political representatives, particularly after a failed 2016 coup against the government.

Fatih Akin, the acclaimed German-Turkish filmmaker, has raised concerns about the arrest of his agent, Ayse Barim, citing her "apolitical" nature and asserting that she is "innocent" of charges related to the Gezi Park protests.
In light of Ayse Barim's arrest and the ongoing crackdown on dissent in Turkey, Fatih Akin has commented on the nation's political climate, stating that some politicians are willing to wage war to maintain power, such as former Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was the target of the Gezi Park protests.
Akin has also noted that he himself may become a target in Turkey, as Turkish prosecutors might attempt to implicate him in a plot aimed at overthrowing the current government, due to his portrayal of Turkish culture and the diaspora and his connection to Ayse Barim and jailed liberal philanthropist Osman Kavala.