Cults Of Terror Ep 5 – Adnan Oktar

Adnan Oktar: The Controversial Cult Leader from Turkey

Adnan Oktar, also known as “Mehdi with the Versace Shirt” or “Harun Yahya,” is one of the most controversial figures in the world of contemporary religious cults in Turkey. He rose to fame in the 2000s by publishing books opposing Darwin’s theory of evolution and founding the A9 TV channel. Born in 1956 in Ankara, Oktar became interested in the Islamist ideas of Said Nursi from a young age. By combining Quranic teachings, anti-Darwinian creationism, conspiracy theories, and radical political views, he attracted a group of followers, mostly young and wealthy women.

Oktar built a vast and influential network using luxurious TV programs featuring women with modeling appearances, whom he called “kittens.” These women played a key role in attracting wealthy and successful individuals to the cult, creating a glamorous and deceptive atmosphere alongside religious propaganda. Through his shows, Oktar rejected evolution theory and promoted creationism, aiming to draw Turkish youth to his beliefs. At the same time, he influenced his audience with conspiracy theories against Jews and Freemasons.

However, behind this popular figure was a dark network of sexual, financial, and threatening abuses. Oktar and his group were accused of forming a criminal gang, sexually abusing women and children, extortion, money laundering, and even political espionage. Their recruitment methods included deceiving young women with promises of jobs and marriage, only to place them under psychological control and threats, using private videos and photos as leverage.

In July 2018, Turkish police raided Oktar’s villa and arrested him along with 168 members of his cult. After a lengthy trial, in 2022 Oktar was sentenced to 8,658 years in prison on multiple charges including leading a criminal organization, sexual assault, abuse, and espionage. The case also revealed the cult’s deep infiltration into Turkey’s judicial and political systems, with connections to high-ranking officials.

The Adnan Oktar cult exemplifies how religious propaganda, luxurious media, and psychological manipulation can combine to control and exploit individuals, ultimately leading to a massive downfall and exposure of a criminal network. This tragic story serves as a crucial warning about the dangers of sinister cults and false messianic leaders who exploit religion to deceive and abuse people.

For more details about this case and other notorious cults, you can watch Cults Of Terror Ep 5 podcast on the Alara Entertainment YouTube channel.