Turkish girl band Manifest in the sights of the judiciary: charges for morality!

Turkish girl band Manifest in the sights of the judiciary: charges for morality!

The Turkish girl band "Manifest" is currently the focus of the Istanbul public prosecutor's office. These were initiated after a controversial appearance in Istanbul, in which the musicians are accused of "shameless behavior". Band members wore provocative outfit during the concert, which are described as lingerie and brought the audience into ecstasy with their exciting dance performances. The public prosecutor raised the allegation of "exhibitionism", which led to an exit lock for the singers, as kosmo.at.

A central element of the concert was the use of the opposition logan "Law, law, justice!", Which is deeply interwoven with the political protest movement against President Erdoğan. According to official explanations, the appearance is an attack on the "common society feeling" and promotes the "cleanliness of custom and morality". In addition, video recordings of the entire appearance were blocked on the X platform, which was justified with national security concerns.

Cultural and political dimensions

"Manifesto" is not only musically successful, but also has an important political role, in particular through their protest songs against the detention of the Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu. Her music charts show that their songs find great response in the Turkish youth and often appeal to confrontational topics. However, this political attitude also attracts the displeasure of the government, as srf.ch.

In a short time, the band has developed into the most successful pop group of Türkiye, their debut CD "Manifestival" reached first place in spring. Their combination of singing and dance in K-pop style, coupled with Turkish influences, appeals to the youth and shows that they reflect cultural attacks on the existing order scandalously.

Political repression and censorship

The current events are part of a larger pattern of political repression that has been in Turkey for several years. In the summer of 2023, numerous music festivals and concerts were initially canceled, often with only a short notice, which is interpreted by the government as part of a strategy to consolidate its authoritarian rule. This policy leads to a significant pressure on the art and cultural scene, and censorship is increasingly becoming an instrument of state control, such as bpb.de.

The suppression of artists who are critical of the government or do not fit into the conservative image is widespread. For example, prohibitions on performance against well -known musicians were spoken, while other artists, such as the band "Manifest", are pursued because of "immoral". This has led to a climate of fear and uncertainty in the field of art, which strongly influences political and social life in Turkey.

In view of the challenges that artists are faced with in Turkey, the question remains to what extent the social and cultural landscape in the country will change. "Manifesto" strives to combine people of different backgrounds through their music and dance performances, and thus remains an important player in the constantly changing political and social scene of Türkiye.