Berlin Film Festival expresses solidarity with convicts of Gezi case
Çiğdem Mater
Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish
Berlin Film Festival has "strongly condemned" the court verdict in the Gezi trial.
In an Instagram post yesterday (April 27), Berlinale recalled that Çiğdem Mater, one of the convicts, had produced the film "Toz Bezi", which was part of the festival's 2016 Forum selection.
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The statement said the following:
"We are deeply shocked by and strongly condemn the verdict of the Turkish court, sentencing Osman Kavala to lifelong imprisonment and seven other members or advisors of Anadolu Kültür to 18-year imprisonment.
"We stand in solidarity with: Çiğdem Mater, Yiğit Ali Ekmekçi, Ali Hakan Altınay, Mine Özerden, Mücella Yapıcı, Tayfun Kahraman and Can Atalay.
"Çiğdem Mater (pictured) is a friend of the Berlinale. She produced the film "Toz Bezi", which was part of the 2016 Forum selection. Mater's work advocates freedom of expression and human rights.
"Therefore, the Berlinale joins the European Court of Human Rights' calls for immediate release."
View this post on Instagram
(AÖ/VK)