Tolga Akış, manager of the band Manifest, has been arrested

Tolga Akış, manager of the band Manifest, has been arrested. In the referral document, the prosecutor's office alleged that his social media posts "encouraged" being LGBTQI+, Kaos GL reported. 

It was decided to remand Akış in custody after he was referred to the magistrate on charges of “facilitating the publication of obscene material.”

Tolga Akış, the founder and manager of the group “Manifest,” was detained as part of an investigation conducted by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor's Office. After police processing, Akış was brought to the Istanbul Courthouse; following his statement to the prosecutor, he was referred to the criminal judgeship of peace with a request for his arrest on charges of “facilitating the publication of obscene material.” The court ordered Akış’s arrest.

In the prosecutor's referral document, the charge of “obscenity” was linked to the visibility of LGBTI+ individuals. The document noted that the group’s posts—which were the subject of the investigation—reached wide audiences, and it alleged that these posts “encouraged and promoted” being LGBTQI+.

The referral document stated that children and young people could access the group’s content “without any filtering mechanism” and alleged that Akış “presented to the public and legitimized” the group’s actions and activities through media channels.

Arguing that there was “strong suspicion” that Akış had committed the offense of “facilitating the publication of obscene material,” the prosecutor's office requested his arrest. Following this request, the criminal judgeship of peace ordered Akış’s arrest.

Powered by Froala Editor