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An Istanbul court has convicted seven members of the pop music group Manifest and a collaborating performer on charges of "obscene behavior" stemming from their September 6 concert at Kucukciftlik Park, sentencing each to three months and 22 days in prison.
The Istanbul 49th Criminal Court of First Instance suspended the announcement of the verdict and placed the defendants under five-year probation. The court convicted Ayca Dalakli, Esin Bahat, Hilal Yelekci, Lidya Pinar, Sueda Uluca, Zeynep Sude Oktay, and Mina Solak on charges of "exhibitionism" and "obscene behavior" related to their dance choreography and stage presentation during the public concert.
According to the court's written decision, the performers engaged in movements that the judges determined constituted exhibitionism through their "dance choreography, movements simulating sexual intercourse in which two singers touched and embraced each other while singing, and repeating these movements."
The suspended sentences mean the performers will not serve prison time unless they commit another offense during the probationary period. The court cited consideration for "the possible effects on the defendants' future" in applying sentence reductions, noting that none had prior convictions for intentional crimes and that their personal characteristics suggested they would not reoffend.
The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office had prepared an indictment following the September concert, arguing that the performance violated community moral standards. Prosecutors contended that the dance choreography violated what they termed society's common sense of decency and values of "chastity, shame, and modesty."
The indictment emphasized that the performance occurred in a public venue rather than a private space, and that concert footage circulated widely on social media platforms, reaching an undetermined number of viewers including children. Prosecutors had originally sought sentences ranging from six months to one year in prison for each defendant.
The prosecution's case rested on the assertion that the movements carried sexual connotations and damaged "society's common perception of privacy" while harming public moral sensibilities.
The September 6 performance at Kucukciftlik Park was Manifest's first concert with an 18-and-over age restriction since the group began performing in February. According to the group's social media accounts, all 12,000 tickets for the event sold out.
Following the opening of the criminal investigation, authorities initially imposed judicial control measures on the group members, including requirements to sign in at police stations and restrictions on international travel. The signature requirement ended in late October, and the travel ban was lifted on December 12.
In the aftermath of the investigation, Manifest cancelled their planned Türkiye tour. Several municipalities had already announced cancellations of scheduled Manifest concerts before the group made the broader tour cancellation official.
Manifest formed from the winners of Big5 Türkiye, a talent competition organized by Hypers New Media agency. The six-member group consists of Mina Solak, Esin Bahat, Zeynep Sude Oktay, Lidya Pinar, Sueda Uluca, and Emine Hilal Yelekci, who launched their performance career with concerts in Istanbul on February 16 and 17.
Since their debut, the group has accumulated approximately two million followers across Instagram, TikTok, X, and YouTube platforms. Their monthly listener count on Spotify exceeds 4.2 million.
Following the September investigation, the group issued a statement on social media saying they had given their testimony and were free. The performers stated: "While we take full responsibility for the show we performed on our stage, we want it to be known that our intention was not to disturb anyone or disregard sensitivities." They indicated their dream was to represent Türkiye internationally and said they would make no further statements on the matter.
The case drew public attention when Presidential Advisor Oktay Saral posted about the group on September 7, using a censored photograph and calling them "immoral-indecent-shameless demon-like creatures" who should be prevented from "this exhibitionism" through legal action.
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