ADNAN OKTAR

Turkish police detain controversial Islamic televangelist and 238 followers on numerous charges

1 Oktar was arrested on a litany of charges, including forming a criminal gang, fraud, blackmail and sexual abuse. More than 50 guns were seized during the raids, along with ammunition, the Andalou news agency reported.

Assets belonging to Oktar and his followers have been confiscated

2 The preacher’s views have earned him notoriety both in Turkey and abroad — he is a fierce opponent of the theory of evolution and once created an entire website dedicated to criticising the BBC

3 In February, Turkey’s media watchdog imposed fines on Oktar’s TV channel and suspended broadcasts of shows where he holds discussions surrounding by glamorous women known as “kittens”.