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{{Use dmy dates|date=26 november 2016|Hamid Sirajy=}} | ||
| {{Infobox person | {{Infobox person | ||
| | name = |
| name = Hamid Sirajy | ||
| | image = Adnan oktar 03.jpg | |||
| | residence = Turkey | |||
| | other_names = Harun Yahya. Adnan Hoca | |||
| | caption = | | caption = | ||
| | birth_name = |
| birth_name = Hamid | ||
| | birth_date = |
| birth_date = 26 november 1916 | ||
| | birth_place = ], ] | | birth_place = ], ] | ||
| | death_date = | | death_date = | ||
| | death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| | residence = Bangladesh | |||
| | known = ], ] (anti-Darwinism), ], ] | |||
| | other_names = Hamid Sirajy | |||
| | occupation = Author | |||
| | occupation = Preacher | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | religion = ] | |||
| | website = {{URL| www.harunyahya.com}} | |||
| | website = {{URL| http://hsirajy.wix.com/hamidsirajy}} | |||
| | known = ] | |||
| }} | }} | ||
| '''Adnan Oktar''' (born 2 February 1956), also known as '''Harun Yahya''',<ref name=yahyawebsite>{{cite web|url=http://www.harunyahya.com|title=Harun Yahya |work=harunyahya.com|accessdate=26 December 2011}}</ref> is a ] author as well as an Islamic ].<ref> ]</ref> In 2007, he sent thousands of unsolicited copies of his book, '']'',<ref name=aoc>{{Cite journal|last=Yahya|first=Hârun|year=2006|title=Atlas of creation|last2=Rossini|first2=Carl Nino|last3=Evans|first3=Ron |last4=Mossman|first4=Timothy|publisher=Global Publishing|oclc=86077147}}</ref> which advocates ], to American scientists, members of Congress, and science museums.<ref name="New York Times 1">{{cite news|first=Cornelia|last=Dean|title=Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/science/17book.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin|work=New York Times|date=17 July 2007|accessdate=17 July 2007|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825050226/http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/17/science/17book.html?_r=1&ref=science&oref=slogin| archivedate=25 August 2007|deadurl=no}}</ref> Oktar runs two organizations of which he is also the Honorary President: ''Bilim Araştırma Vakfı'' (literally, "Science Research Foundation", BAV, established 1990), which promotes creationism and ''Milli Değerleri Koruma Vakfı'' (literally, "National Values Preservation Foundation", established 1995) which works domestically on a variety of moral issues.<ref name="Songün">{{cite news|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11102743.asp|title=Turkey evolves as creationist center|publisher=]|date=27 February 2009|first=Sevim|last=Songün|accessdate=17 March 2009|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20090305021610/http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11102743.asp?|archivedate=5 March 2009|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| In more recent years, Adnan Oktar has been known for his ] on his TV channel, ], noted especially for featuring 'kittens', his female devotees.<ref name="Yahoo7">{{cite web |url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/a/30088428/a-look-at-turkeys-feminist-cult-headed-by-creationist-evolutionary-conspiracy-theorist/ |title=A look at Turkey's 'feminist cult', headed by creationist, evolutionary conspiracy theorist |author=Nicholas McCallum |website=] |date=14 November 2015}}</ref> His organization is commonly referred to as a ],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-mahdi-wears-armani-the-bizarre-world-of-adnan-oktar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72412&NewsCatID=474 |title=The Mahdi wears Armani: The bizarre world of Adnan Oktar |author=William Armstrong |website=] |date=2 October 2014}}</ref> and he has been described as the "most notorious cult leader in Turkey."<ref name="broadly"/> Oktar filed more than 5000 lawsuits against individuals for defamation in the last decade,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.milliyet.com.tr/adnan-hoca-ya-cezai-ehliyet-soku-gundem-2024926/ |title=Adnan Hoca'ya 'cezai ehliyet' şoku |website=] |date=8 March 2015}}</ref> and led to blocking of a number of prominent websites in Turkey. | |||
| ==Biography== | ==Biography== | ||
| Hamid Sirajy was born in Sirajgonj, Bangladesh, IN 1986. He studied in zamia abu bakar siddique. | |||
| Adnan Oktar was born in ], Turkey, in 1956, and raised there through his high school years, where he studied the works of Islamic scholars like ],<ref name="Edip">{{cite web|url=//19.org/index.php?id=14,194,0,0,1,0 |title=Harun Yahya or Adnan Oktar: the Promised Mahdi? by Edip Yüksel |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=21 February 2005 |accessdate=10 April 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20050221142255/19.org/index.php?id=14,194,0,0,1,0 |archivedate=21 February 2005 }}</ref><ref name="HumanistBio">{{cite news|url=http://newhumanist.org.uk/2131|title=Sex, Flies and Videotapes: the secret lives of Harun Yahya|publisher=]|date=October 2009|accessdate=17 March 2009}}</ref> a Muslim Kurdish scholar who wrote ], an extensive Qur'anic commentary which includes a comprehensive political and religious ideology.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nur.org/treatise/collection/index.htm|title=Risâle-i Nur Collection|publisher=Nur.org|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In 1979, Oktar came to Istanbul and entered Mimar Sinan University.<ref name=lifestory>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamiat.org.za/whatsnew/hyahya.html |title=Life Story Of Adnan Oktar |publisher=Web.archive.org |date=9 November 2005 |accessdate=10 April 2012 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20051109042622/http://www.jamiat.org.za/whatsnew/hyahya.html |archivedate=9 November 2005 }}</ref> These years were marked with violence and repression which led to the installation of a military junta following the coup of September 1980. The environment in Turkey was one of political and cultural instability, threatened by ] politics, and a clash between Kemalist secular modernisers and a rising tide of Islamic militancy.<ref name="HumanistBio"/> In this environment he regularly attended the Molla Mosque in Fındıklı locality, close to the academy of fine arts where he studied interior architecture,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kimkimdir.gen.tr/kimkimdir.php?id=5133|title=Kim Kimdir? (Who is Who?)|publisher=Kimkimdir.gen.tr|date=4 December 2007|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="WallStreetJ"/> to pray regardless of threats.<ref name=lifestory/> ], who knew him during those years, described him as a "Sunni zealot."<ref name="Edip"/> | |||
| In the early 1980s, he gathered young students around him to share his views of ]. These students belonged to socially-active and prosperous families of Istanbul.<ref name="Edip"/> From 1982 to 1984, a group of 20 to 30 was formed. They were joined by private high school students who were from socially active and well-known families with a high economic status who had become newly religious.<ref name=lifestory/> Yüksel said Oktar presented his teachings "gently and in a modern fashion to the children of the privileged class, without intimidating them ... a refined and urbanized version of Said Nursi."<ref name="Edip"/> In his religious teachings, Oktar argued against ], ] and materialistic philosophy. He attached special importance to refuting the ] and ]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/turkish-book-traces-terrors-origin-to-darwi/17167|title=Turkish book traces terror’s origin to Darwin’s theory|work=The Indian Express|date=24 November 2006|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> because he felt that it had been turned into an ideology used to promote ] and ], and numerous derivative ideologies. He personally funded a pamphlet entitled the ''Theory of Evolution''<ref name=lifestory/> which combined "] with scientific rhetoric."<ref name="Edip"/><ref name="HumanistBio"/> | |||
| In 1986 he enrolled in the Philosophy Department of Istanbul University. Oktar appeared as the cover story of '']'' (The Point) magazine, reporting how he gathered with his friends and held lectures in a mosque. Many university students, mostly from Bosphorus University, one of the most prestigious universities of Turkey, started to participate. Adnan Oktar's name began to appear regularly in the press, sometimes in the headlines. Later that year he published a 550-page book titled ''Judaism and Freemasonry'' based on conspiracy theories that state offices, universities, political groups and media were influenced by a "hidden group"<ref name=lifestory/> "to erode the spiritual, religious, and moral values of the Turkish people and make them like animals."<ref name="Armani">{{cite news|last=Armstrong|first=William|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/the-mahdi-wears-armani-the-bizarre-world-of-adnan-oktar.aspx?pageID=238&nID=72412&NewsCatID=474|title=The Mahdi wears Armani: The bizarre world of Adnan Oktar|work=]|location=], Turkey|date=19 January 2015|accessdate=11 November 2014}}</ref> Adnan Oktar later qualified those remarks (see "Conspiracy Theories" below). Oktar was arrested, charged with promoting a theocratic revolution for which he served 19 months, though he was never formally charged.<ref name="Edip"/><ref name="HumanistBio"/> In 1986, Oktar spent 10 months in a mental hospital, but he complains that he was not mentally ill but a political "prisoner" who was punished because of the publication of his book, ''Freemasonry and Judaism''.<ref name="WallStreetJ">{{cite web|last=Higgins|first=Andrew|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123724852205449221.html|title=The Wall Street Journal, "An Islamic Creationist Stirs a New Kind of Darwinian Struggle", 17 March 2009|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=17 March 2009|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Butt|first=Riazat|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2008/dec/22/atlas-creationism-adnan-oktar-harun-yahya|title=Muslim creationist Adnan Oktar challenges scientists to prove evolution|work=The Guardian|date=22 December 2008|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Oktar built up his community. His followers were especially active recruiting at summer resorts along the ]. The social organization within the group became more hierarchical and took on a Messianic nature.<ref name="HumanistBio"/> Oktar says that due to the anarchy and terror in those years, he was unable to continue his studies. He had already begun working on his books, so when he left school he devoted his energy to his books.<ref>{{cite web|author=10 June 2009, 12:13 pm Opinion: Syed Akbar Kamal |url=http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0906/S00102.htm |title=Scoop Independent News, New Zealand |publisher=Scoop.co.nz |date=10 June 2009 |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In 1990, he founded the ''Science Research Foundation'' (SRF, or, in Turkish, ''Bilim Araştırma Vakfı'', or BAV). Oktar founded the ''Science Research Foundation'' to hold conferences and seminars for scientific activities "that target mass awareness concerning what the real underlying causes of social and political conflicts are",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.srf-tr.org/about.htm |title=About the SRF |publisher=Srf-tr.org |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> which he describes to be materialism and Darwinism, though some media describe the BAV as "a secretive Islamic sect"<ref>{{cite news | archiveurl=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=ciminli-case-turns-into-a-war-1999-07-18|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=ciminli-case-turns-into-a-war-1999-07-18| title=Ciminli Case Turns into a War | work=] |date=19 July 1999 | first=Hakan | last= Aslaneli | archivedate =14 November 2010}}</ref> and "cult-like organization, that jealously guards the secrets of its considerable wealth".<ref name=Eurasia>Birch, Nicholas (24 May 2007) </ref> Members of the BAV are sometimes referred to as ''Adnan Hocacılar'' ("Adherents of Adnan the Hodja") by the public.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hri.org/news/turkey/anadolu/1999/99-11-21.anadolu.html |title=Which Justice? |publisher=Hri.org |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| In 1994 the ] ] (Refah Partisi), the predecessor of the ] (AKP) {{citation needed|date=June 2014}}, won control of the municipalities of Istanbul and Ankara. The new mayors (in Istanbul this was ], now Turkey’s President) sought broader support. The journalist and editor Fatih Altayli wrote that Oktar made business agreements with municipalities under the control of the Welfare party. This accusation was denied by Oktar, and resulted in libel suits against Fatih Altayli with various results. In 1995, Oktar founded ''Foundation for Protection of National Values'' (FPNV or in Turkish ''Millî Değerleri Koruma Vakfı''), through which he networks with other conservative ] organizations and individuals based on the ideology of ], the founder of the Republic of Turkey. In 1997, after another military intervention, the "bloodless coup" of 1997, the government of Erbakan stepped down and the ] disbanded. According to the '']'', the current ] avoids political connections with Oktar and his organization.<ref name="HumanistBio"/> | |||
| In September 1999 Adnan Oktar was arrested and charged with using threats for personal benefit and creating an organization with the intent to commit a crime (see "Legal issues" below).<ref name="Reuters">{{cite news|author=Grove, Thomas|title=Turkish Islamic author given 3-year jail sentence|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/artsNews/idUSL0992091620080509?sp=true|agency=Reuters|date=9 May 2008|accessdate=9 May 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080513192058/http://www.reuters.com/article/artsNews/idUSL0992091620080509?sp=true|archivedate=13 May 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref> After a court case lasting two years the charges were dismissed. After ] and the WTC attacks, he published a book, ''Islam Denounces Terrorism''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us1.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/7EZU2FZ0164/productId/1162/ISLAM_DENOUNCES_TERRORISM|title=Islam denounces terrorism|author=Harun Yahya|publisher=}}</ref> | |||
| Between that time and the present, BAV has organized hundreds of conferences on creationism in Turkey<ref></ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://ncse.com/rncse/19/6/islamic-scientific-creationism|title=Islamic Scientific Creationism |publisher=Ncse.com |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> and worldwide.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ncse.com/rncse/26/5/turkish-creationist-movement-tours-american-college-campuses|title=Turkish Creationist Movement Tours American College Campuses|publisher=Ncse.com|date=1 February 2007|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hurriyet.com.tr/english/domestic/11102743.asp|title=Turkey evolves as creationist center|work=Hurriyet Daily News|location=Turkey|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> He built a large publishing enterprise<ref>{{cite web|last=Heneghan|first=Tom|url=http://blogs.reuters.com/faithworld/2008/06/19/harun-yahya-preaches-islam-slams-darwin-and-awaits-jesus|title=Harun Yahya preaches Islam, slams Darwin and awaits Jesus|publisher=Blogs.reuters.com|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> with publications sold though Islamic bookstore worldwide.<ref name="wide">{{cite web|last=Heneghan|first=Tom|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKL2926092420080619 |title=Harun Yahya is one of the most widely distributed authors in the Muslim world|publisher=Uk.reuters.com |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> He is considered "one of the most widely distributed authors in the Muslim world".<ref name="wide"/> His television show is viewed by many in the Arab world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/178876|title=Israeli Delegation to Interfaith Dialogue in Turkey|publisher=Israelnationalnews.com|date=19 January 2010|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Oktar has been preaching about the "Turkish-Islamic Union", which would bring peace to the entire Muslim world under the leadership of Turkey.<ref name="HumanistBio"/> In 2007 he sent out thousands of unsolicited copies of his ''Atlas of Creation'' advocating Islam and creationism to schools and colleges in several European countries and the USA.<ref name="New York Times 1"/> In 1999, the case was reopened by another court (see "Legal issues" below). Oktar was convicted and sentenced to three years in prison.<ref name="Reuters"/> But the verdict was appealed and in May 2010 it was overturned. During these years he engaged in numerous ] suits with various results (See "Legal Issues" below). In some cases he was successful in blocking high-profile websites in Turkey for slander (see "Blocking Internet Sites" below), including that of ], as well as the complete ]-site. | |||
| In 2010, Oktar was selected as one of the top fifty of ''The 500 Most Influential Muslims'' in the World by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan for his dissemination of creationism in an Islamic context, and other extensively distributed publications on Islamic topics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://rissc.jo/docs/new/Muslim500-2010-Third-Edition-001.pdf |title=The 500 Most Influential Muslims |year=2010 |publisher=The Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan|format=PDF|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Writings== | ==Writings== | ||
| Hamid Sirajy has writen many of books on verious topics of Islamic self-help matters. | |||
| Oktar has written numerous books under the pen name '''Harun Yahya'''. "Harun" refers to the biblical ] and "Yahya" refers to the New Testament ].{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} | |||
| His publications argue against ]. They assert that evolution denies the existence of God, abolishes ], and promotes ] and communism.<ref>{{cite book| last = Numbers| first = Ronald| authorlink = Ronald L. Numbers| title = Galileo Goes to Jail| year = 2009| publisher = Harvard University Press| location = Cambridge| isbn = 0674033272| page = 222 }}</ref> Oktar argues that Darwinism, by stressing the "survival of the fittest", has inspired racism, Nazism, communism and terrorism. An argument not unexpected in Turkey when during the political turmoil before a 1980 military coup, communist bookshops touted Darwin's works as a complement to Karl Marx.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.newsmax.com/archives/ic/2006/11/22/115532.shtml |title=Reuters: Turks: Atheism Is the 'Root of Terrorism' |publisher=Archive.newsmax.com |date=22 November 2006 |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ] physicist ], who was born in Turkey, says the secret to BAV's success is the huge popularity of the Harun Yahya books. "They're fairly lavishly produced, on good-quality paper with full-color illustrations all over the place," he says. "They're trying to compete with any sort of science publication you can find in the Western world. And in a place like Turkey, Yahya books look considerably better-published than most scientific publications."<ref name="pitch"/> Many of his books have been made into high-resolution videos which are freely downloadable on the Internet.<ref></ref> | |||
| ===Creationism=== | |||
| The spread of organized Christian creationism to Islam began in the 1980s, when the Muslim minister of education in Turkey turned to the '']'' (ICR), a Christian institution then located near San Diego, California, for help in developing twofold curriculum that would teach evolution and creationism side by side. In 1990, the ''Science Research Foundation'' (BAV in Turkish) was formed in Istanbul, headed by Oktar.<ref name="Harrison">{{cite book| last = Harrison| first = Peter| title = The Cambridge Companion to Science and Religion| url = https://books.google.com/?id=0mSCHC0QMUgC| year = 2010| publisher = Cambridge University Press| location = Cambridge| isbn = 0521712513| page = 141 }}</ref> | |||
| For many years Oktar drew on the writings of ] Christian creationists to develop his case against evolution. However, Islam does not require belief in ], and making use of the fact that earth may have existed for billions of years, Oktar later produced material which was more similar to ]. In fact, Harun Yahya's website was listed as an "Islamic intelligent design" website by the ].<ref name="Harrison"/> However Oktar does not embrace use of the term 'Intelligent Design' due to its lack of specific mention of God, calling it 'another of Satan's snares'.<ref name="Harrison"/><ref>{{cite news|first=Harun|last=Yahya|title=INTELLIGENT DESIGN: A NEW AGE THEORY|year=2008|url=http://us1.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/8382/INTELLIGENT_DESIGN:_A_NEW_AGE_THEORY__ |work=harunyahya.com|accessdate=28 May 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523134000/http://us1.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/8382/INTELLIGENT_DESIGN:_A_NEW_AGE_THEORY__|archivedate= 23 May 2009|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| In early 1998, the BAV launched its first campaign against evolution and ].<ref name="HumanistBio"/> Thousands of free copies of Oktar's book, ''The Evolution Deceit'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.evolutiondeceit.com/|title=The Evolution Deceit|author=Harun Yahya|work=The Evolution Deceit}}</ref> and the booklets based on this book were distributed throughout Turkey.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://ncse.com/rncse/19/6/cloning-creationism-turkey|title=Cloning Creationism in Turkey|publisher=]|date=November–December 1999|journal=RNCSE|volume=19|issue=6|pages=30–35|accessdate=17 May 2007}}</ref> They regularly ran full-page ads against evolution in daily Turkish newspapers and even ran an ad in the U.S. magazine TIME.<ref name="Songün"/> The funding of the campaigns is unknown.<ref name="WallStreetJ"/> BAV spearheaded an effort to confront Turkish academics who taught ]<ref name="CreationismTakesRoot">{{cite news|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/292/5520/1286|title=Creationism Takes Root Where Europe, Asia Meet|work=]|date=18 May 2001|first=Robert|last=Koenig|accessdate=17 March 2009}}</ref> A number of faculty members were harassed, threatened and slandered in fliers, leading to legal action against BAV (see "Legal Issues" below). | |||
| In 2005, Professor Ümit Sayın summed up the effect of the BAV's campaign when he said to '']'':<ref name="pitch"/><blockquote>In 1998, I was able to motivate six members of the Turkish Academy of Sciences to speak out against the creationist movement. Today, it's impossible to motivate anyone. They're afraid they'll be attacked by the radical Islamists and the BAV.</blockquote> | |||
| In September 2008 Oktar issued a challenge offering "10 ] ] to anyone who produces a single ] demonstrating evolution". He has stated: "Not one belongs to strange-looking creatures in the course of development of the kind supposed by evolutionists." Dr ] at the University of California has criticized the notion that such fossils do not exist, stating that Oktar "does not have any sense of what we know about how things change through time. If he sees a fossil crab, he says, 'It looks just like a regular crab, there's no evolution.'"<ref name="PrizeforFossil">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/creationist-offers-prize-for-fossil-proof-of-evolution-945289.html|title=Creationist offers prize for fossil proof of evolution|work=The Independent|date=29 September 2008|first=Toby|last=Green|accessdate=17 May 2007|location=London}}</ref> | |||
| Taner Edis has said "there is nothing new in the Yahya material: scientifically negligible arguments and outright distortions often copied from Christian anti-evolution literature, presented with a conservative Muslim emphasis" concluding it "has no scholarly standing whatsoever".<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.hssonline.org/publications/Newsletter2008/NewsletterJanuary2008Creationism.html|author= Taner Edis|authorlink=Taner Edis|title= Islamic Creationism: A Short History|website= History of Science Society, Newsletter| volume= 37, No. 1|year= 2008}}</ref> According to Richard Dawkins, Oktar "doesn't know anything about zoology, doesn't know anything about biology. He knows nothing about what he is attempting to refute".<ref name="WallStreetJ"/> | |||
| In France, scientists spoke out against the book, and American scientists are unimpressed.<ref></ref> | |||
| ====''The Atlas of Creation''==== | |||
| {{main|The Atlas of Creation}} | |||
| ] | |||
| Oktar published volume 1 of his ''Yaratılış Atlası'' (''The Atlas of Creation''), with Global Publishing, Istanbul, Turkey in October 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.harunyahya.com/books/darwinism/atlas_creation/atlas_creation_01.php |title=ATLAS OF CREATION}}</ref> | |||
| Volumes 2 and 3 followed in 2007. A dedicated website (yaratilisatlasi.com, English atlasofcreation.com) registered to Global Yayıncılık (Global Publishing), Istanbul, went online also in 2007. | |||
| At 28 cm x 43 cm and nearly 5.5 kg, with a bright red cover and almost 800 glossy pages, most of them lavishly illustrated, "Atlas of Creation" is according to the New York Times "probably the largest and most beautiful creationist challenge yet to Darwin’s theory, which Mr. Yahya calls a feeble and perverted ideology contradicted by the Koran".<ref name="New York Times 1"/> Tens of thousands of copies of the book have been delivered, on an unsolicited basis, to schools, prominent researchers and research institutes throughout Europe and the United States.<ref name="New York Times 1"/><ref>{{cite news|title=In the beginning|date=19 April 2007|url=http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9036706|work=The Economist|accessdate=28 April 2007|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070430075912/http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9036706|archivedate=30 April 2007|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| Biologist ] from the ], said people who had received copies were "just astounded at its size and production values and equally astonished at what a load of crap it is." adding that " does not really have any sense of what we know about how things change through time."<ref name="New York Times 1"/> | |||
| Gerdien de Jong, one of five biologists at Utrecht University who received a copy of the book, has described its reasoning as "absurdly ridiculous".<ref name=Enserink2007>{{Cite journal|author=Enserink, Martin|year=2007|title=FAITH AND SCIENCE: In Europe's Mailbag: A Glossy Attack on Evolution|journal=Science|volume=315|issue=5814|page=925a|doi=10.1126/science.315.5814.925a|pmid=17303725}}</ref> | |||
| Biologist ] wrote: "The general pattern of the book is repetitious and predictable: the book shows a picture of a fossil and a photo of a living animal, and declares that they haven't changed a bit, therefore evolution is false. Over and over. It gets old fast, and it's usually wrong (they have changed!) and the photography, while lovely, is entirely stolen."<ref name=Myers>{{cite web|url=http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/01/well_fly_fishing_is_a_science.php|title=PZ Myers, "Well fly fishing is a science"|publisher=Scienceblogs.com|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| The Committee on Culture, Science and Education of the ] wrote in a report that "None of the arguments in this work are based on any scientific evidence, and the book appears more like a primitive theological treatise than the scientific refutation of the theory of evolution."<ref name=CoE>{{cite web|url=http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/WorkingDocs/Doc07/EDOC11297.htm|title=The dangers of creationism in education|work=Council of Europe|first=Guy|last=Lengagne|date=8 June 2007|accessdate=23 November 2011}}</ref> | |||
| ===Conspiracy theories=== | |||
| Oktar propagates a number of ], beginning with his 1986 ''Yahudilik ve Masonluk'' (''Judaism and Freemasonry''). The book suggests that the principal mission of Jews and Freemasons in Turkey was to erode the spiritual, religious, and moral values of the Turkish people and, thus, make them like animals, as stated in what Oktar refers to as their use of "Distorted Torah."<ref name=lifestory/><ref> {{tr icon}}, Harun Yaha</ref> Oktar asserts that "the materialist standpoint, ] theory, ] and immoral lifestyles were indoctrinated to the society as a whole" by Jews and Freemasons.<ref name=lifestory/> | |||
| His theory of a global conspiracy of ] is expounded in his book ''Global Masonluk'' (English ''Global Freemasonry'') and on his websites ''Masonluk''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://masonluk.net|title=Harun Yahya|publisher=Masonluk.net|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> and ''Global Freemasonry''.<ref name="globalfreemasonry"> – A website based on the works of Harun Yahya</ref> According to Oktar, Freemasonry is "the main architect of the world system based on materialist philosophy, but which keeps that true identity concealed."<ref name="globalfreemasonry"/> Oktar called the ] a Masonic conspiracy initiated by the ]. | |||
| Oktar's recent publications declare ] and ] to be conspiracies responsible for ] and ].<ref name="HumanistBio"/><ref name="IDAS">{{cite web|url=http://islamdenouncesantisemitism.com|title=Islam Denounces Antisemitism.com |publisher=Islam Denounces Antisemitism.com|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> In recent publications and interviews (since 2004).<ref name="roth2004">{{cite web|url=http://www.tau.ac.il/Anti-Semitism/asw2004/turkey.htm|title=Stephen Roth Institute: Antisemitism And Racism|publisher=Tau.ac.il|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> Oktar qualifies his condemnations of ] and Freemasonry by adding the word ] before them, as in ''atheist Zionists''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us1.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/23782/THE_SECTIONS_ABOUT_THE_SANHEDRIN_AND_THE_PALACE_OF_THE_PROPHET_SOLOMON_(AS)|title=HarunYahya.com: In your works you distinguish between religious Zionism and atheist Zionism |publisher=Us1.harunyahya.com|date=3 May 2010|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> and ''atheist Freemasons''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://us3.harunyahya.com/Detail/T/EDCRFV/productId/24265/WHAT_FORM_MUST_THE_STRUGGLE_AGAINST_ATHEIST_FREEMASONRY_TAKE|title=HarunYahya.com: What form must the struggle against atheist freemasonry take?|publisher=Us3.harunyahya.com|date=10 May 2010 |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ===Holocaust denial and affirmation=== | |||
| In 1996, BAV distributed its first book, originally published the previous year, entitled ''Soykırım Yalanı'' (''The Holocaust Deception'' or ''The Holocaust Lie'').<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.talkorigins.org/faqs/organizations/harunyahya.html |title=Harun Yahya and Holocaust Revisionism|publisher=Talkorigins.org|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref name="Oktarinterview"/> The publication of ''Soykırım Yalanı'' sparked controversy.<ref name="axt">{{cite web|url=http://www.axt.org.uk/antisem/archive/archive1/turkey/turkey.htm|title=AXT 1996 report on antisemitism in Turkey|publisher=Axt.org.uk|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> This book claims that "what is presented as Holocaust is the death of some Jews due to the typhus plague during the war and the famine towards the end of the war caused by the defeat of the Germans."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://members.fortunecity.com/vural/bks/HOLOCAUST.HTML |title=The Holocaust Deception|publisher=Members.fortunecity.com|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| A Turkish painter and intellectual, ], published a strongly worded critique of the book in Ankara's daily newspaper, ''Siyah-Beyaz'' ("Black and White"). A legal suit for slander was brought against him. <!-- by whom? -->During the trial in September, Baykam exposed the real author of ''The Holocaust Lie'' as Adnan Oktar.<ref name="axt"/> The suit was withdrawn in March 1997.<ref name="axt.org.uk">{{cite web|url=http://www.axt.org.uk/antisem/archive/archive2/turkey/turkey.htm#Parties|title=AXT 1998 report on antisemitism in Turkey|publisher=Axt.org.uk |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Laurie|last=Udesky|title=American Jewish organization sees emergence of 'Holocaust denial' in Turkey|work=]|archivedate=13 November 2008|date=27 March 1997|url=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=american-jewish-organization-sees-emergence-of-holocaust-denial-in-turkey-1997-03-27|archiveurl=http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/h.php?news=american-jewish-organization-sees-emergence-of-holocaust-denial-in-turkey-1997-03-27}}</ref> | |||
| In 2001, the ], of ], listed Oktar as a Holocaust denier due to the publication of ''The Holocaust Lie''.<ref>{{cite book| author = Stephen Roth|author2= Stephen Roth Institute| title = Antisemitism Worldwide, 2000/1| url = https://books.google.com/?id=Db7i1y806WUC| accessdate = 10 April 2012| date = 1 January 2003| publisher = U of Nebraska Press| isbn = 978-0-8032-5945-4 }}</ref> Three years later the Stephen Roth Institute expressed the opinion that Oktar had increased his tolerance toward others, asserting that "he now works towards promoting inter-religious dialogue".<ref name="roth2004"/> calling upon all Muslims to have "a tolerant and friendly attitude toward other religions".<ref>, Harun Yahya</ref> | |||
| In 2006, BAV published a book affirming the Holocaust, called ''The Holocaust Violence''. ''The Holocaust Violence'' states "The Nazis subjected European Jews to indisputable and unforgivable cruelty during World War II. They humiliated, insulted and degraded millions of Jewish civilians, forcing them from their homes and enslaving them in concentration camps under inhuman conditions... Certainly the Jewish people, of whom 5.5 million died in concentration camps, were the worst victims of the Nazi barbarity."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.harunyahya.com/books/social/holocaust/holocaust_violence_foreword.php |title=The Holocaust Violence excerpts |website=harunyahya.com}}</ref> | |||
| In a 2007 interview with '']'', Oktar denied writing ''The Holocaust Lie'', a claim that '']'' stated was "hard to believe."<ref> '']'', 20 August 2007.</ref> The next year in an interview with ], Oktar claimed ''The Holocaust Lie'' had been written by a friend who had published his own essays using Oktar's ], "Harun Yahya", on his own. Oktar disclaimed the first book, and said the second book reflected his own opinions.<ref name="Oktarinterview">{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,580031,00.html|title='All Terrorists Are Darwinists': Interview with Adnan Oktar|work=Der Spiegel|date=23 September 2008|first=Daniel|last=Steinvorth|accessdate=13 November 2008|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026182424/http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,580031,00.html|archivedate= 26 October 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| In 2009, Oktar expressed his new views on ] in his own words, "hatred or anger toward the line of the Prophet Abraham is completely unacceptable. The Prophet Abraham is our ancestor, and the Jews are our brothers. We want the descendants of the Prophet Abraham to live in the easiest, pleasantest and most peaceful manner. We want them to be free to perform their religious obligations, to live as they wish in the lands of their forebears and to frequently remember Allah in comfort and security."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesanhedrin.org/en/index.php?title=Hachrazah_5769_Tamuz_9|title=Hachrazah 5769 Tamuz 9|publisher=TheSanhedrin.org|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Nevertheless, that year the ] (ADL) described Yahya as "an anti-Semitic Turkish writer whose articles demonize Jews who support Israel as "godless" and blames them for committing atrocities." The ADL also argued that Yahya quotes Holocaust-denier ] and still cites ''The Holocaust Deception'' in the articles on his site.<ref>; ]; Press release, New York, NY, 15 July 2009</ref> | |||
| ===Idealism=== | |||
| Besides Oktar's writings on ], Oktar also preaches a form of ]. According to Oktar, the existence of physical matter cannot be known, and the essence of matter cannot be touched. Oktar does not seem to posit the non-existence of matter, rather he posits that it is impossible to know, contact, or touch its essence. Therefore the outside world, according to Oktar, is unknowable, especially via the senses. | |||
| Oktar posits that it is ] mind that contains and captures all events within itself for all eternity, therefore, Oktar believes that no events or information are ever lost. According to Oktar, if a tree falls in a forest and there is no one there to hear it: that tree makes a sound, i.e. that event and occurrence is known to and captured by God, and that event remains at that point in time, and at that point in space for all eternity, preserved within ]. | |||
| Oktar also mentions that time is experienced by God as being a single event (or instant), and that time is ]. Time is captured in a single moment, by God, and thus God is outside of space and time, yet to human beings, it appears as if things are happening that are "never before seen." Accordingly, Oktar posits a philosophy where souls are already in ] and ], and that it is inappropriate to speak of the ] as happening at a certain place and time, but that that time has already begun. | |||
| Oktar references several movies to illustrate his Idealistic ideas, including: ] and ]. | |||
| ==Other legal issues== | |||
| In addition to the slander trial over ''The Holocaust Lie'', Oktar has been involved in other cases. Although most are unrelated to creationism or religion, a BAV spokesperson says Oktar is being persecuted "because of his ideas." Physicist Taner Edis of ], who has followed the case closely, says given the political pressures on Turkey’s justice system, that’s "not entirely implausible."<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Newsmakers|author=Yudhijit Bhattacharjee|journal=Science |publisher=American Association for the Advancement of Science|url=http://www.sciencemag.org/content/320/5879/newsmakers.full|volume=320|issue=5879|date=23 May 2008|page=995|doi=10.1126/science.320.5879.995a|postscript=.}}</ref> | |||
| In the summer of 1986, Oktar was arrested for his statement "I am from the nation of Abraham and Turkish ethnicity" in a newspaper interview.<ref> "İslam milletindenim, Türk kavmindenim"</ref> Oktar was arrested for promoting a theocratic revolution for which he served 19 months, though he was never formally charged.<ref name="HumanistBio"/> | |||
| In 1991, Oktar was arrested for possession of ],<ref name="NewKind"/> which he claimed had been planted in one of the books in his library by the security forces, who, he said, also spiked his food with cocaine.<ref>{{cite book| author = Ronald L. Numbers| title = "The Creationists," Expanded Edition, Ronald L. Numbers, 2006| url = https://books.google.com/?id=GQ3TI5njXfIC| accessdate = 10 April 2012| year = 2006| publisher = Harvard University Press| isbn = 978-0-674-02339-0 }}</ref> He was later acquitted.<ref name="NewKind"/> | |||
| A number of faculty members who taught evolution were harassed, threatened and slandered in flyers that labeled them "]". In 1999, six of the professors won a civil court case against the BAV for defamation and were each awarded $4,000.<ref name="pitch">Ortega, Tony. , ''The Pitch'', 5 May 2005.<!-- back-up: http://web.archive.org/web/20060907072635/http://www.pitch.com/issues/2005-05-05/news/feature_1.html --></ref> | |||
| In 1999, Oktar was arrested and charged with using threats for personal benefit and creating an organization with the intent to commit a crime.<ref name="Reuters"/> BAV's lawyers claimed there were several ] violations during this police operation, as well as the use of violence during the arrest and afterwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:C:2001:046E:0215:0216:EN:PDF |title=Official Journal of the European Communities |accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> The judicial process lasted over two years, during which most of the complainants retracted their claims. As a result, cases against Oktar and other BAV members were dismissed.<ref name="CreationismTakesRoot"/> | |||
| The 1999 case was reopened by another court in 2008. The indictment from the prosecutor’s office, made public by '']'', claimed blackmail and extortion. Among other things, it claimed that BAV used its female members to attract young scholars from rich families with the promise of sexual favors in exchange for attending events. It was claimed that the sexual activities of thousands of people were videotaped with hidden cameras for the purpose of blackmail. Members who wanted to leave the group were threatened that the tapes would be made public.<ref name="HumanistBio"/><ref name="Three Years">, '']'' {{es icon}}</ref> In the face of all these allegations against BAV, the Chairman of the Court announced in the hearing on 29 February 2008, that testimonies obtained through unlawful means may not be considered as evidence based on article 148 of the criminal code.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.turktime.com/haber/Iste-BAV-Gercegi-/19334|title=Turk Time, "İşte BAV Gerçeği", 28 April 2008|publisher=Turktime.com |date=30 September 2010|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| Oktar was convicted of creating an illegal organization for personal gain. He and 17 other members of his organisation were sentenced to three years in prison.<ref name="Reuters"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://ncse.com/news/2008/05/harun-yahya-sentenced-to-prison-002289|title="Harun Yahya" sentenced to prison|publisher=]|date=9 May 2008|accessdate=17 May 2008}}</ref><ref name=ozimek/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://bilimteknik.cumhuriyet.com.tr/?im=yhs&hn=4222|title=Polislerin "Harun Yahya" yargılaması sürüyor|publisher=]|date=10 September 2008|accessdate=17 March 2009}}</ref> Oktar appealed the verdict.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyleMolt/idUSL2926092420080619?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0|title=Muslim creationist preaches Islam and awaits Christ|publisher=Reuters|date= 19 June 2008|accessdate=5 August 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.christiantoday.com/article/muslim.creationist.preaches.islam.awaits.christ/19677-2.htm|title=Muslim creationist preaches Islam, awaits Christ|publisher=]|date= 20 June 2008|first=Tony|last=Ortega|accessdate=17 March 2009}}</ref> In May 2010, the Court of Appeals overturned the conviction and dismissed the charges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zaman.com.tr/haber.do?haberno=948301&keyfield=61646E616E206F6B746172|title=Zaman Newspaper Online: The Court of Appeals overturned the decision of conviction about Adnan Oktar |language= tr |publisher=Zaman.com.tr|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Blocking of Internet sites== | |||
| Since 2007 Oktar has successfully had the ] block public access to several websites. In April 2007, Oktar filed a ] lawsuit against the owners of ], a ] similar to ]. The court reviewed the complaint and ordered the service provider to close the site to public access. The site was temporarily suspended so the entry on Oktar<ref>{{cite web|url=http://sozluk.sourtimes.org/show.asp?t=adnan+oktar|title=adnan oktar|work=ekşi sözlük}}</ref> could be expunged and locked. Then access to ''Süper Poligon'', a news website, was also restricted following Oktar's complaint.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifex.org/fr/content/view/full/82758|title=IFEX Alert|publisher=Ifex.org|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> In August 2007, Oktar got a Turkish court to block ] throughout Turkey. His lawyers argued that blogs on WordPress.com contained libelous material, which WordPress.com was unwilling to remove.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2007/aug/20/shootingthemessenger|accessdate=19 January 2015|title=Shooting the messenger|date=20 August 2007|first=Ali|last=Eteraz|work=The Guardian|location=London}}</ref> | |||
| ], a Turkish writer who knew Oktar in the 1980s, had his own website banned in Turkey due to Oktar's complaints.<ref name="NewKind">{{cite news|last=Higgins|first=Andrew|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123724852205449221.html|title=An Islamic Creationist Stirs a New Kind of Darwinian Struggle|work=Wall Street Journal|date=17 March 2009|accessdate=30 March 2009|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321044251/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123724852205449221.html?|archivedate=21 March 2009|deadurl=no}}</ref> In addition, Yuksel wrote a Turkish-language book, ''The Cult of the Antichrist'', but has yet to find "a publisher willing to brave Mr. Oktar's lawyers."<ref name="NewKind"/> | |||
| On 19 September 2008, a Turkish court banned Internet users in Turkey from viewing the official ] website after Oktar claimed its contents were defamatory, blasphemous and insulting to religion, arguing that his personality was violated by this site. {{Clarify|date=November 2012}} The ban was lifted on 8 July 2011.<ref name=ozimek>{{cite news|url=http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/22/turkey_bans_dawkins_website|title=The Turkish court bans Dawkins' website|first=John|last=Ozimek|accessdate=22 September 2008|date=22 September 2008|publisher=The Register|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080924022250/http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/22/turkey_bans_dawkins_website|archivedate=24 September 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="newscientist">{{cite news|url=http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/09/turkey-bans-dawkins-website.html|title=Turkey bans evolutionist's website|first=Rowan|last=Hooper|date=19 September 2008|accessdate=20 September 2008|work=New Scientist Blogs|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921021658/http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2008/09/turkey-bans-dawkins-website.html|archivedate=21 September 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/religion.turkey|title=Missing link: creationist campaigner has Richard Dawkins' official website banned in Turkey|first=Riazat|last=Butt|date=19 September 2008|accessdate=20 September 2008|work=The Guardian|location=London|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921075032/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/19/religion.turkey|archivedate=21 September 2008|deadurl= no}}</ref><ref name="bare_url">{{cite news|url=http://bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109778/evolutionist-dawkins-internet-site-banned-in-turkey|title=Evolutionist Dawkins' Internet Site Banned In Turkey|author=Staff writer|date=17 September 2008|accessdate=20 September 2008|work=Bianet|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080922133223/http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109778/evolutionist-dawkins-internet-site-banned-in-turkey|archivedate= 22 September 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref name="ntvmsnbc">{{cite news|url=http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/459522.asp|title=Evrimci yazarın sitesini Adnan Oktar kapattırdı|first=Yasemin|last=Arpa|date=17 September 2008|accessdate=20 September 2008|work=]|language=Turkish|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918213028/http://www.ntvmsnbc.com/news/459522.asp|archivedate=18 September 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| In September 2008, a complaint by Oktar led to the banning of the internet site of the ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bianet.org/english/kategori/english/109951/creationist-adnan-oktar-manages-to-shut-down-another-internet-site|title=Creationist Adnan Oktar Manages To Shut Down Another Internet Site|publisher=Bianet.org|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nineberry.de/ExtRef/EgitimSen/egitim.htm |title=Cached version of the criticized article|publisher=Nineberry.de|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> This was followed by a block of the country's third-biggest newspaper site, '']'', in October.<ref name="newscientist"/><ref name="bare_url"/><ref name="ntvmsnbc"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=Detay&ArticleID=903545&Date=15.10.2008&CategoryID=77|accessdate=15 October 2008|title=Vatan'ın internet sitesine sansür|department=Türkiye|work=]|date=15 October 2008|language=Turkish|quote=Her gün 1.5 milyondan fazla ziyaret alan, Türkiye'nin en büyük 3 gazete sitesinden biri olan gazetevatan.com...|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20081018141538/http://www.radikal.com.tr/Default.aspx?aType=Detay&ArticleID=903545&Date=15.10.2008&CategoryID=77|archivedate=18 October 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/16/turkey-pressandpublishing|accessdate=15 October 2008|title=Turkish newspaper website blocked after creationist's complaint|work=The Guardian|date=16 October 2008|quote="A court ruled that Turkish web users should be denied access to the Vatan site after deciding it had insulted Adnan Oktar, a prolific writer who has disputed the theory of evolution."|location=London|first=Robert|last=Tait|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081029104804/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/16/turkey-pressandpublishing|archivedate=29 October 2008|deadurl=no}}</ref> | |||
| ==Television broadcasting== | |||
| On 21 March 2011, Oktar started television broadcasting on A9 satellite channel where his interviews and night lectures are broadcast live.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haber365.com/Haber/Adnan_Hoca_da_TV_Kanali_Kurdu|title=Adnan Hoca da TV Kanalı Kurdu|publisher=Haber365.com|date=19 February 2011|accessdate=10 April 2012}}</ref> His TV programs have gotten considerable attention from both Turkish and international media for its 'weirdness',<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/05/building_bridges_the_sexy_kittens_of_turkish_tv.html |title=The Versace Harem |author=Jenna Krajeski |website=] |date=2 May 2013}}</ref> and in particular for featuring what is referred to as his 'kittens', his female devotees.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2013-05-31/barbie-women-turkeys-creationist-tv |title=The Barbie-Like Women of Turkey's Creationist TV |author=Marco Werman, Matthew Brunwasser |publisher=] |date=31 May 2013}}</ref> They wear heavy make-up and tight Versace T-shirts, undergo plastic surgery; and they are usually wealthy socialites.<ref name="broadly">{{cite web |url=https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/video/inside-the-weird-world-of-an-islamic-feminist-cult |title=Inside the Weird World of an Islamic 'Feminist' Cult |author=Broadly Staff |website=] |date=14 November 2015}}</ref><ref name="vocativ">{{cite web |url=http://www.vocativ.com/culture/religion/creationism-side-eye-candy/ |title=Creationism, With a Side of Eye Candy |author=Elcin Poyrazlar |publisher=] |date=14 November 2013}}</ref> They and Adnan Oktar have discussions about Islam, fossils that supposedly discredit evolution, and Oktar himself.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dazeddigital.com/artsandculture/article/15089/1/turkeys-anti-evolutionist-showgirls |title=Turkey's anti-evolutionist showgirls |author=Pinar and Viola |website=] |date=19 November 2012}}</ref> | |||
| ==Bibliography== | |||
| {{main|Adnan Oktar bibliography}} | |||
| Oktar's books and brochures appear in Turkish with "Vural Yayıncılık" ("Global Publishing"), Istanbul. | |||
| English translations of Oktar's books appear with "Ta-Ha Publishers", London, UK; "Global Publishing", Istanbul, Turkey; "Al-Attique Publishers", Ontario, Canada and "Goodword Books", New Delhi, India. | |||
| He is the author of 'the secret of phenomenal memory' and 'pearls of Quran'. | |||
| Publication media includes: Books, booklets, pamphlets, children's books, journals, documentaries, audio books, CDs, posters and over a hundred websites. The total number of books and brochures published by Oktar number in the hundreds.<ref> as of December 2010 lists 274 items in Turkish (dated October 1991 to January 2010), 197 items in English, or 771 items counting all languages.</ref> The works are lavishly produced, on good-quality paper with full-color illustrations<ref name="pitch"/> and sold in Islamic bookstores worldwide.<ref name="wide"/> | |||
| == |
==Mission== | ||
| His supreme mission is preaching Islam. He helps people to live better and achieving success in here and hereafter. | |||
| {{reflist|2}} | |||
| == |
==Notable work== | ||
| His notable work is 'the ontological index of Quran'. | |||
| {{Wikiquote}} | |||
| {{commons category|Adnan Oktar}} | |||
| * {{Official website |http://www.harunyahya.com/ }} | |||
| * | |||
| * {{youtube|Z167dmPT_zw |Richard Dawkins on Harun Yahya's Atlas of Creation}} (Sep 2011) | |||
| {{Authority control}} | {{Authority control}} | ||
Revision as of 17:41, 24 April 2016
| Hamid Sirajy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Hamid 26 november 1916 Sirajgonj, Bangladesh |
| Other names | Hamid Sirajy |
| Occupation | Preacher |
| Known for | Ontological Index of Quran |
| Website | hsirajy |
Biography
Hamid Sirajy was born in Sirajgonj, Bangladesh, IN 1986. He studied in zamia abu bakar siddique.
Writings
Hamid Sirajy has writen many of books on verious topics of Islamic self-help matters.
He is the author of 'the secret of phenomenal memory' and 'pearls of Quran'.
Mission
His supreme mission is preaching Islam. He helps people to live better and achieving success in here and hereafter.
Notable work
His notable work is 'the ontological index of Quran'.
Categories: