Adnan Oktar: Turkish television preacher arrested for fraud and abuse

Turkish police arrested a controversial preacher known for giving televised sermons surrounded by young women whom he calls his "kittens".

Adnan Oktar was arrested Wednesday morning suspected of fraud, alongside more than 100 of his supporters

Critics have accused the Islamic preacher of leading a cult.

He operates his own television channel, through which he delivered his controversial opinions.

Turkey's financial crime police were behind the morning raids on Mr. Oktar and his followers. They were arrested on suspicion of a series of charges, including the management of a criminal organization, tax offenses, sexual abuse and anti-terrorism laws.

Turkish media reported that 166 of its supporters had been arrested.

The official Andalusian news agency said that he was on the list of most wanted crimes – and that he had been caught in the act of flight.

More than 50 weapons were seized during the series of ammunition raids, says Andalusian.

Property belonging to Mr. Oktar and all 235 suspects were confiscated by the courts, he added

The Turkish media appeared to have been informed in advance of the operation because some were on the scene to register Mr. Oktar's arrest.

Before being taken away, he told reporters that the allegations against him were lies. "A game by the deep British state", a subject he has often talked about in the past.

He told the Cumhuriyet newspaper that the operation had been requested by the "British intelligence services."

an operation to be launched on us A delegation was sent to Turkey on this subject This request was forwarded to [President Recep Tayyip Erdogan] during his visit to the United Kingdom, "he said.

The preacher's point of view has earned him some notoriety He has been arrested several times in the past and has spent a lot of time in prison and in a psychiatric hospital over the years.

He is a fierce opponent of the theory of evolution and wrote a book titled "The Atlas of Creation" using a pen name. 19659007] Several copies were sent to academics and libraries as far away as the United States – unsolicited – and the volume was largely missed for his errors concerning the animals that he presents, including a photograph of A plastic fly with hook

He also created a website devoted entirely to criticism of the BBC, which he said "generally acts in line with the emotions aroused by the fact that Darwin was British".

His television shows involving his so-called "kittens" in heavy makeup and athletic young men – his "lions" – drew the attention of the Department of Religious Affairs of Turkey.

Her broadcasts convey Islamic views – but officials have challenged those who are mixed with belly dancers lightly dressed between speeches. In January, the head of the department suggested that Mr. Oktar "has most likely lost his mental balance."

Turkey's regulator issued a five-episode suspension, claiming it violated gender equality and women's rights. [ad_2]
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