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A court in Istanbul has ordered the release of Tolga Akis, founder and manager of Turkish girl group Manifest, who had been held in custody over obscenity allegations stemming from the band's September 2025 concert in Türkiye.
Akis appeared before Istanbul's 43rd Criminal Court of First Instance on charges of facilitating the publication of obscene material. The court ruled that he could be released under judicial supervision, subject to a ban on leaving the country.
The decision does not end the criminal proceedings, with the next hearing scheduled for March 18, 2027.
The case centers on Manifest's performance at Istanbul's Kucukciftlik Park on Sept. 6, 2025, which prosecutors argue included sexually suggestive choreography and costumes.
During the hearing, Akis rejected the accusations and explained that the concert had been advertised as an adults-only event because of the venue's age restrictions rather than the nature of the performance.
He maintained that no minors attended the concert and said his team had filed criminal complaints against individuals who shared concert footage without permission.
Responding to questions about the choreography, Akis defended the performers' artistic expression, arguing that their dancing might have offended some viewers but did not constitute a crime.
He also expressed regret that Manifest had become associated with obscenity allegations and requested both his release and acquittal.
Akis' lawyer, Kaya Pulat, argued that the allegations lacked concrete evidence and questioned why his client faced obscenity charges when Manifest's members were being prosecuted separately over the same concert for allegedly engaging in indecent conduct.
Pulat maintained that the performance did not amount to a criminal offense and said hundreds of complaints had been filed against people who circulated unauthorized concert recordings.
The prosecutor also supported Akis' release, citing the nature of the alleged offense, the potential sentence and the completion of his defense testimony.
Following the arguments, the court ordered his release under a travel ban and requested that the prosecution prepare its final opinion on the case.
Akis was detained at Istanbul Airport on Aug. 28, 2026, and subsequently arrested as part of an investigation launched by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office.
The indictment seeks a prison sentence ranging from six months to three years, alleging that Akis played a central role in organizing and overseeing Manifest's performances.
Prosecutors claim that Akis, who formed the group through the Big Five Türkiye talent competition, controlled its concerts, financial operations and the boundaries of its stage presentations.
They further argue that the group's costumes and choreography formed part of a deliberate marketing strategy and that Akis helped make allegedly obscene footage accessible to wider audiences without age restrictions.
Akis has denied directing the group's dance routines, insisting that the performers developed their choreography independently.
He also disputed leaked correspondence attributed to a former business partner, Mesut Adlin, describing the messages as jokes taken out of context and alleging that they had been used to damage his reputation.
The court will continue examining the allegations at the next hearing in March 2027.
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