Turkish Cult Leader Guilty, 8,658 Years in Prison

21-11-2022

Vivien Fakhoury

Middle East and Human Rights Researcher

Global Human Rights Defence

In July 2018, Adnan Oktar and hundreds of his group members were arrested by Turkish police. In January 2021, he was convicted of leading a terrorist organization, political and military espionage, sexual abuse of minors, rape, blackmail, and causing torment, and sentenced to 1,075 years in prison. His sentence was overturned due to legal shortcomings and the appeals court ordered a retrial. On November 16, 2022, Oktar was sentenced to 891 years for his own crimes, and a total of 8,658 years for his disciples’ crimes. [1] Based on Turkish law, he may be released after 30 years. [2] Sentences for the other defendants differed. [3]

Oktar identifies himself as an Islamic feminist and opponent of Darwin’s evolutionary theory, which he accuses of causing global terrorism. He shared his views in 300 books in 73 languages under the pen name Harun Yahya. His ‘followers’ were largely females whom he called his ‘kittens.’ He hosted A9 TV, where he gave sermons about Islam, politics, feminism, among other topics. During the program, the women would dance for him. [4] 

In a documentary by VICE Life, their correspondent, Meher Ahmad, was invited to the online TV program, and she had the opportunity to talk to the women first-hand – with the permission and presence of Oktar though. The women discussed that Oktar was unique in his thinking in that he didn’t just preach equality of men and women, but rather argued women are superior to men. They said they felt free with him. [5] However, in an interview with TRT World, filmed after Oktar’s arrest, one of the previously-interviewed women shared that she tried to escape when she first joined and was then caught and forced back into the cult. She agreed that the charges against him are true. [6] He lured the women into his cult by promising “the best conditions, you will wear the best brands, your life will be luxurious.” During his trial, the women revealed that they were sex slaves and forced to take contraceptive pills. In fact, 69,000 contraceptive pills were found during the raid of his house. Oktar argues they were treating skin and menstrual problems. After his 2021 conviction, one of the women was subjected to more than 300 defamation lawsuits from Oktar. [7]

Oktar denies the convictions and argues it is “a game by the British deep state.” [8]

Sources and Further Readings:

[1] Al Jazeera Staff. (2022, November 17). Turkish 'cult leader' Oktar sentenced to 8658 years in prison. Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/11/17/turkey-court-sentences-tv-preacher-to-8658-years-in-prison; Daily Sabah Staff. (2022, November 16). Turkish cult leader Oktar gets record 8658 years in retrial. Daily Sabah. https://www.dailysabah.com/turkey/turkish-cult-leader-oktar-gets-record-8658-years-in-retrial/news 

[2] Türkiye: Ceza Ve Güvenli̇k Tedbi̇rleri̇ni̇n İnfazi, Law No. 5275, Art. 107, 13 December 2004, https://www.mevzuat.gov.tr/mevzuatmetin/1.5.5275.pdf 

[3] Wright, G. (2022, November 17). Adnan Oktar: TV cult preacher jailed for 8658 years in Turkey. BBC. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63668818 

[4] Ahmad, M. (2015). Inside the Weird World of Adnan Oktar's Islamic 'Feminist' Cult [Film]. VICE Life. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bH21w2R0hc; TRT World. (2018). Who is Adnan Oktar? [Film]. The Newsmakers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F96x0b92peA 

[5] Ahmad, M. (2015).

[6] TRT World. (2018).

[7] MacDonald, A. (2022, November 16). Turkish cult leader Adnan Oktar sentenced to 8658 years in prison after retrial. Middle East Eye. https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/turkey-adnan-oktar-sentenced-jail-retrial 

[8] Wright, G. (2022, November 17).