Prosecutors seek up to 3 years in prison for Manifest founder Tolga Akış

The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office has completed its investigation into Tolga Akış, founder and manager of the group publicly known as "Manifest." The indictment seeks a prison sentence of 6 months to 3 years for Akış on the charge of "aiding the publication of obscene broadcasts."

Assessments in the indictment

The indictment states that Akış was the group's producer and company owner, selected the members through a program called "Big Five," that concerts and shows were planned through his management company, and that he handled the group's financial transactions. Prosecutors said his management role was not limited to representation, and that he set the limits of the group's shows and played an active role in shaping the content and the commercial strategy.

The indictment also states that Akış could not have been unaware of how the choreography at concerts and the published footage might affect society's sense of decency, and that the shows and costumes were used as a marketing strategy. It stresses that the assessment of obscenity must be based on society's general values and, in particular, the protection of children, and that reaching wide audiences without age restrictions is unacceptable. It adds that there is sufficient evidence that Akış committed the offense.

Akış's defense

Akış, whose statement is summarized in the indictment, said he is the founder of the group and selected its female members in the "BigFive Türkiye" competition. Saying he was not a suspect in the case in which 7 Manifest members were tried following the concert at Küçükçiftlikpark on September 6, 2025, Akış stated that the group's dance moves were not performed under his direction and that he bears no responsibility.

How the process unfolded

Akış was detained on August 27 as part of the investigation conducted in August and was referred to the courthouse on August 28. Referred to a judgeship with a request for arrest on the charge of aiding the publication of obscene broadcasts, he was subsequently arrested.