The Amsterdam paper’s investigation covers 2022 to July 2026. Sona has parted ways with Kahali. Its independent investigation had produced no results as of Oct 15, De Orkaan reported.
Amsterdam daily Het Parool has published an investigation in which 12 women accuse Omid Kahali, a cofounder of Dutch promoter Sona, of sexually inappropriate behaviour. Kahali denies all of the allegations. The paper published its report on Oct 17, four days before Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) opened on Oct 21.
What Het Parool reports about Omid Kahali
Het Parool says it spoke with 23 women. Twelve of them say they experienced sexually inappropriate behaviour by Kahali between 2022 and July 2026. The other 11 say they witnessed pushy behaviour or an incident involving a friend. The women spoke anonymously, the paper says.
As described by Het Parool, the alleged incidents range from unwanted kissing and touching to sexual pressure. Two women told the paper they believe their drinks were spiked. None of the women filed a police report, according to the paper.
In total, Het Parool says it spoke with about 60 people. It says it compared their statements and, where possible, checked them against messages, screenshots and accounts from others.
Kahali denies the allegations
Kahali rejects every allegation. In his response to Het Parool, he said “any factual basis for the serious allegations of sexual offenses” is lacking. He said the paper “relies entirely on anonymous, defamatory statements that are inherently contradictory and factually incorrect.” He also noted that no police report has been filed for any of the alleged situations.
On the alleged spiking, Kahali said no medical or toxicological tests took place. Therefore, he said, there is no factual evidence.
Kahali also went to court to stop the article. A judge in Lelystad rejected that request on Friday, Oct 16, and ruled in favour of Het Parool, the paper reports.
Sona’s response
Sona said on Oct 14 that it would no longer work with Kahali. He leaves the organisation as director and shareholder, and he will have no further role in Sona Worldwide, No Art or Wavy events, according to the company’s statement. The remaining founders, Bora Güney and Ruud Boymans, now lead the company.
Kahali had already stepped back over the summer, Sona said. The company commissioned an independent investigation in mid-August, De Orkaan reports. As of Oct 15, that investigation had produced no results, De Orkaan says.
Days later, Sona posted a second statement on Instagram. “This summer, we brought in an independent integrity organisation to investigate,” it reads. “At SONA, we do not accept behaviour that crosses boundaries. Everyone’s safety comes first, and we want everyone to feel safe and respected.”
In its comments to Het Parool, Sona said it was unaware of complaints from women until recently. It also said that none of the situations in the article took place at a Sona event.
Why it matters
Sona’s events include No Art, Wavy and GOLFOS. It has also brought concepts such as Keinemusik, Circoloco and Pawsa in the Park to the country, Het Parool reports. The report landed just before ADE, the electronic music industry’s biggest week in Amsterdam. RA has also reported the allegations in English.
The allegations are unproven, and Kahali denies them. BEZ has not independently verified the accounts in Het Parool’s report.
Sources: Het Parool (English), Oct 17; Sona news page; De Orkaan: investigation results still pending; Sona on Instagram, Oct 16; RA News, Oct 19
