Manifest: The Legal File, Controversy

Rising Turkish girl band, Manifest, is under investigation by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office after clips from their Istanbul concert stir public outrage.

The concert, which was marketed for ages 18 and above, resembled performances and styling of Western artists. However, Turkish netizens did not react to Manifest’s performance well, accusing the team of exhibitionism and indecency.

Within days following the concert, the Prosecutor’s Office initiated an investigation on the band members. No arrests were made; however, the court imposed judicial control steps like travel bans and making the members regularly sign in at police stations. The rest of their Türkiye tour would also go on to be cancelled despite high anticipation from fans.

The band, which made its debut in the beginning of 2025 with the song Zamansizdik, gained success right away with songs including Snap, KTS, and Arıyo. The members Mina Solak, Esin Bahat, Hilal Yelekçi, Lidya Pınar, Zeynep Sude Oktay, and Sueda Uluca were able to amass a large fan base within a small time frame, and began their concert series.

It was the release of their deluxe Manifestival album and its celebratory concerts which lead to the controversy and later a broader societal debate on social media. While many believe in the actuality and necessity of such a case, others argue, claiming that the concerts are already 18+ and marketed to an adult audience, that art should be free of any and all kinds of policing. Critics have not backed down, however, asserting that the performance has the potential to diminish cultural values.

In a country where culture, moral values, and norms are taken very seriously, the case is expected to not only impact Manifest but also a new generation of art that was starting to form in Türkiye.

Edited by: Ömer Gökce