Halit Ergenç sentenced to prison over Gezi Park testimony controversy

Al Bawaba

26-05-2025

ALBAWABA - Halit Ergenç faces legal consequences over Gezi Park testimony controversy.
With a contentious issue, Turkey's press world has once again gained attention. A court order convicted well-known actor Halit Ergenç, who portrayed Suleiman the Magnificent in the historical drama "Magnificent Century," to one year and ten months in prison. Anadolu Agency gave this information.
During the investigation, Ergenç was charged with making false statements. He was first given a sentence of two years and three months in prison by the Istanbul Court. However, because of his cooperation with the court and kind demeanor, his punishment was lowered. Actor Rıza Kocaoğlu was also given a prison term, but it was delayed because neither actor had a criminal history. Therefore, they will not be imprisoned for the time being.
Halit Ergenç and Rıza Kocaoğlu Haber 7
The protests that started in Istanbul's Gezi Park in 2013 and developed into widespread anti-government rallies are the subject of this case. Originally motivated by environmentalist goals, these actions ultimately took on political significance.
In this case, Halit Ergenç was asked to testify as a witness. He was questioned by the prosecutor's office on his connection to Mehmet Ali Alabora, an activist and actor who plays a pivotal role in the case. He didn't have a close relationship with her, Ergenç had said. Nevertheless, his claims were refuted by phone logs and collective photographs.
Because Halit Ergenç made a false statement, the prosecutor's office asked that he be sentenced to two to four years in jail. Ergenç refuted the accusations at the hearing, claiming that he had not lied and had only responded to inquiries. He said that there was no intimate relationship and that his acquaintance with the other individuals in the file, particularly manager Ayşe Borim, was only surface-level.
Ergenç said he regretted not submitting a counterclaim since the public misinterpreted his involvement in the events when the images and phone data were made public.
This episode served as a reminder that celebrities are subject to the law, even if it initially appeared to be a typical tabloid news item. The public as well as Ergenç's supporters took notice of this matter when his name was brought up. His real-life circumstances showed a different side to him than his on-screen persona.