Women come forward with sexual assault complaints against ‘yoga cult leader’

While sexual assault is often considered an action committed by the predator directly forcing themselves on the victim, the chilling allegations against Turkey-based Azeri “yoga guru” Professor Akif Manaf have a twist. 

Manaf, referred to as a "grand master" after claiming to have learned yoga from Indian masters, has published many books and opened his own school, Yoga Academy, in Turkey. However, he is accused of fraud to the amount of 1 million Turkish Liras and sexual assault by many of his former students, who also claim he has become a "cult leader."

Manaf was recently taken into custody but released, albeit with an overseas travel ban. 

In a press release, he denied all the allegations, claiming that his students had assaulted him and were using his teachings and products to make money.

Manaf had become a national yoga phenomenon after moving to Turkey. His books have been read by many and his “yoga carnivals” were popular, especially among young women. After receiving Manaf’s instruction, many students have reportedly become dedicated to the yoga teacher, seeing him as the only guide for the correct way of living. 

Previously, a number of women filed unsuccessful lawsuits against Manaf, but victims have allegedly been too afraid to speak up publicly, with some particularly devoted students claiming that he would bring death upon people who abandoned his way. However, after the boyfriend of one of the victims made the first public complaint that started the investigation, several other alleged victims of sexual assault also began coming forward.

Manaf is alleged to have won the victims’ unconditional devotion and convinced them to engage in sexual activity, using hypnosis and...