A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic&nbsp;televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens."

Adnan Oktar,66, led television programmes of him surrounded by women wearing lots of makeup and little clothes to promote creationism and conservative rules, the Anadolu news agency reported.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/middle-east/at-least-7-killed-18-injured-after-bus-crash-in-eastern-turkey-532030">Also read |&nbsp;At least 7 killed, 18 injured after bus crash in eastern Turkey</a>

On Wednesday, the Istanbul court&nbsp;sentenced him to 891 years in prison for running a criminal organisation, sexual abuse, denial of education rights and illegal storage of personal data. In total, the sentence brings Oktar's punishment to 8,658 years. The court also gave similar years in prison to 10 other suspects, AFP reported.&nbsp;

The first verdict against Oktar and his mates was filed in January 2021 but was&nbsp;overruled by an upper court citing legal proof&nbsp;and ordering a retrial.&nbsp;This&nbsp;indictment against Oktar and his mates was presented in the court in September, accusing him of also running an armed organisation and exploiting the religious sentiments of many.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/century-of-turkey-vision-turkish-president-erdogan-wants-a-new-constitution-to-strengthen-law-and-equality-529772">Also read |&nbsp;'Century of Turkey Vision': Turkish President Erdogan wants a new constitution to strengthen law and equality&nbsp;</a>

Turkey's religious leaders and critics have been denouncing the leader of a cult, who gained&nbsp;popularity for his programmes on the online A9 television channels.&nbsp;

Oktar&nbsp;is also accused of collecting private data of high-profile names, from politicians, and actors to journalists.&nbsp;

The current sentence does not exceed the longest months prison sentence terms which was 9,803 years and six months, but still is one of the longest in the country and also in the world.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens.

A Turkish court has given 8,658 years in prison to an Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader who surrounded himself with women wearing minimal clothes, whom he called "kittens." Adnan Oktar,66, led television programmes of him surrounded by women wearing lots of makeup and little clothes to promote creationism and conservative rules, the Anadolu news agency reported. Also read | At least 7 killed, 18 injured after bus crash in eastern Turkey On Wednesday, the Istanbul court sentenced him to 891 years in prison for running a criminal organisation, sexual abuse, denial of education rights and illegal storage of personal data. In total, the sentence brings Oktar's punishment to 8,658 years. The court also gave similar years in prison to 10 other suspects, AFP reported. The first verdict against Oktar and his mates was filed in January 2021 but was overruled by an upper court citing legal proof and ordering a retrial. This indictment against Oktar and his mates was presented in the court in September, accusing him of also running an armed organisation and exploiting the religious sentiments of many. Also read | 'Century of Turkey Vision': Turkish President Erdogan wants a new constitution to strengthen law and equality Turkey's religious leaders and critics have been denouncing the leader of a cult, who gained popularity for his programmes on the online A9 television channels. Oktar is also accused of collecting private data of high-profile names, from politicians, and actors to journalists. The current sentence does not exceed the longest months prison sentence terms which was 9,803 years and six months, but still is one of the longest in the country and also in the world. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader sentenced to 8,658 years in prison by Turkish court

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source.&nbsp;

Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors. The 64-year-old Oktar and dozens of his followers were arrested in simultaneous nationwide raids in 2018.&nbsp;

Oktar preached conservative views while women he called his "kittens" -- many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery -- danced around him in the TV studio.

He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported.&nbsp;

Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest, according to the official Anadolu news agency.

The hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations.

Oktar told the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends.&nbsp;

"There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim," he said in another hearing in October.

He added on another occasion: "I am extraordinarily potent."

Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals.

His online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations from Turkey's religious leaders.

One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women.

Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court.

Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities.

He also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016.

Oktar is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written a 770-page book called "The Atlas of Creation" under the pen name, Harun Yahya.

(With inputs from agencies)

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source. Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors.

A Court in Istanbul on Monday slapped cult leader Adnan Oktar with over 1,000 years in prison for 10 separate crimes, according to a judicial source. Adnan Oktar is the head of a cult that is considered a criminal organization by prosecutors. The 64-year-old Oktar and dozens of his followers were arrested in simultaneous nationwide raids in 2018. Oktar preached conservative views while women he called his "kittens" -- many of whom appeared to have had plastic surgery -- danced around him in the TV studio. He was sentenced to 1,075 years for crimes including sexual assault, sexual abuse of minors, fraud and attempted political and military espionage, the private NTV broadcaster reported. Some 236 suspects have been on trial in the case, 78 of whom are under arrest, according to the official Anadolu news agency. The hearings have featured lurid details and harrowing sex crime allegations. Oktar told the presiding judge in December that he had close to 1,000 girlfriends. "There is an overflowing of love in my heart for women. Love is a human quality. It is a quality of a Muslim," he said in another hearing in October. He added on another occasion: "I am extraordinarily potent." Oktar first came to public attention in the 1990s when he was the leader of a sect that was caught up in multiple sex scandals. His online A9 television channel began broadcasting in 2011, drawing denunciations from Turkey's religious leaders. One of the women at his trial, identified only as CC, told the court that Oktar had repeatedly sexually abused her and other women. Some of the women he had raped were forced to take contraceptive pills, CC told the court. Asked about 69,000 contraception pills found in his home by the police, Oktar said they were used to treat skin disorders and menstrual irregularities. He also dismissed any link to a group led by US-based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkish authorities accuse of orchestrating a coup attempt in 2016. Oktar is a creationist who rejects the Darwinian theory of evolution and has written a 770-page book called "The Atlas of Creation" under the pen name, Harun Yahya. (With inputs from agencies)

Turkish religious cult leader Adnan Oktar jailed for 1,075 years  for sex crimes

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Islamic televangelist and sex cult leader sentenced to 8,658 years in prison by Turkish court

Turkish religious cult leader Adnan Oktar jailed for 1,075 years for sex crimes