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Posted by on Oct 24, 2008 in Adnan Oktar (aka Harun Yahya) | 5 comments

An invitation to meet Mr Adnan Oktar (aka Harun Yahya, aka Adnan Hoca) – “future ruler of the entire world”?

I was recently invited to fly to IstaNbul to interview Mr Adnan Oktar, also known as Harun Yahya, a Muslim who has published very many books challenging evolution, including, of course, his lavishly illustrated and produced Atlas of Creation, provided free to thousands of schools around the world.

I received a phone call from Mr Oktar’s representative, Seda Aral, correcting “minsinformation” about Oktar, and explaining why his successful attempt to shut down Richard Dawkins website in Turkey was entirely justified. Oktar styles himself a defender of freedom of speech, and insists he was defamed.

Actually Oktar also attempted to get e.g. The God Delusion banned in Turkey, despite the fact that it says nothing about Oktar.

Dawkins explains why Oktar is a world-class nincompoop here. It’s hilarious.

Despite the offer of an all-expenses-paid trip to Turkey as the guest of Mr Oktar, I’m not going.

It seems many others have received such offers, such as this writer for New Humanist (scroll down and you’ll see one of the comments is from “Nathan” who also received an invitation). Oktar’s budget for self-promotion seems to have no limits – as Dawkins points out, OUP estimated the cost of producing his Atlas at half a million quid. Where’s the money coming from (there’s a clue below)?

Why aren’t I going? I am not nearly as well-known as Dawkins, of course, so I don’t much mind appearing at low-key events such as this one in London, because I don’t think I am providing much “oxygen of publicity”, and may succeed in casting a few doubts into the minds of the audience.

However, Oktar is different – he’s powerful and, I suspect, dangerous, and I wouldn’t feel comfortable taking his money. The Dawkins episode is nothing compared to some of the other stuff it seems Oktar has got up to. He stands convicted by a Turkish court and faces a three year prison term. Oktar is appealing against the conviction. While this conviction has been reported in the West (see Reuters), the sheer scale of the various allegations being made against Oktar (in court and out) has not yet received much attention over here. To date, it’s only the Dawkins website ban that’s attracted interest.

For example, there have been some very serious allegations about cult activity:

THIS BIT REMOVED – GO HERE FOR EXPLANATION.

Oktar insists he is simply the victim of conspiracy.

Oktar, also known as Adnan Hoca, was arrested after “Operation Adnan Hoca” which involved 2,000 Turkish police officers, according to this quite amazing story from the Turkish Daily News.

THIS BIT REMOVED – PLEASE GO HERE FOR EXPLANATION.

5 Comments

  1. hey!!i know that guy!!he owes me money!!

  2. I have read the Atlas of Creation and seen the great piece of work against evolution. There is no need to judge someone according to what the media says about him. You have to make your own decision after having in depth information about that person’s views. So, I would suggest that you encounter his works at http://www.harunyahya.com and then comment on his personality or world vision.

  3. Thanks for your post, Many other journalist/blogger have been invited in similar way.

  4. Stephen. Just tell us why you escaped from Adnan Oktar?Everybody knows that u are scared because you dont have anything to say. He has 300 books and you are scared of course. Dont cry. Darwinism is over. The struggle is won by Oktar..

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