Turkish Producer Cigdem Mater Sentenced to 18 Years in Trial for Gezi Park Protests

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentTurkish producer Cigdem Mater, known on the festival circuit for backing arthouse titles such as the 2013 Venice competition drama “Sivas,” has been arrested and sentenced to 18 years in prison on trumped-up charges, along with other activists, in connection with the 2013 Gezi Park anti-government protests.Mater, who is also a journalist, was incarcerated on Monday in Istanbul at the conclusion of a trial during which Turkish philanthropist Osman Kavala, who was already in custody, was sentenced to life imprisonment on charges of “attempting to overthrow the government” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan by allegedly financing the protests.Mater and six other activists are accused by the Turkish court of supporting Kavala and being behind the protests that were prompted by construction of a mall in an Istanbul park.

The protests snowballed and grew into nationwide anti-government unrest. Mater is also specifically accused of trying to raise financing for a documentary about the Gezi Park movement that was never made.

Kavala, Mater and all other defendants have repeatedly denied the accusations. They are expected to appeal the verdict.Mater came to Turkey from Germany in February to attend the trial in Istanbul.The verdict, which has been vehemently slammed by European and U.S.