"Inspired by the high profile of its Christian American counterpart, Muslim creationism is becoming increasingly visible and confident. On scores of websites and in dozens of books with titles like The Evolution Deceit and The Dark Face of Darwinism, a new and well-funded version of evolution-denialism, carefully calibrated to exploit the current fashion for religiously inspired attacks on scientific orthodoxy and “militant” atheism, seems to have found its voice. In a recent interview with The Times Richard Dawkins himself recognises the impact of this new phenomenon: “There has been a sharp upturn in hostility to teaching evolution in the classroom and it’s mostly coming from Islamic students.” The patron saint of this new movement, the ubiquitous “expert” cited and referenced by those eager to demonstrate the superiority of “Koranic science” over “the evolution lie”, is the larger-than-life figure of Harun Yahya." - Eivind from Bookmarklet

"Yahya has publicly offered a lucrative prize for anyone who can produce a “transitional fossil” – the lack of which he claims proves evolution to be false. When Dawkins publicly lampooned the research in the Atlas of Creation (he pointed out that one of the photos of a Caddis Fly was in fact a fishing fly, complete with metal hook, stolen from the internet, pictured), and labelled Yahya a charlatan on his website, Yahya used his considerable influence and battalion of lawyers to sue for libel and have Dawkins’s website banned in Turkey. This is just one of thousands of cases he has brought before the Turkish courts." - Eivind

"Sensing another opportunity immediately after 9/11, Oktar instantly shed his formerly virulent anti-Semitism and published a piece called “Islam condemns terror”, designed, apparently, to curry favour with America. Oktar’s group already had established good relations with US congressmen in 2000, when his Science Research Foundation received the endorsement of seven members of Congress and retired Senator Steve Symms, who described it as “a major influence for good among the younger population of Turkey” and praised its “commitment to democracy, preservation of national and moral values, and respect for law”." - Eivind

"Since then Oktar has become an ardent proponent of interfaith dialogue, attempting to unify believers of all stripes against the corrupting influence of Darwinism, which he now holds responsible for Fascism, anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. Most recently, he has been talking about the “Turkish-Islamic Union”, which would bring peace to the entire Muslim world under the leadership of Turkey." - Eivind

What a fraud - Edward Zwart

Turns out this guy is the reason I couldn't access certain websites when I was in Istanbul this summer. - Eivind

I guess not. Is he responsible for the Youtube ban (I know he blocked richarddawkins.net)? - Eivind

i once watched him on tv, he claims he is prophet... did you know that he had spent some 3-5 years in asylum ... funny guy - deerstep

It was mentioned in the article, but they suspected he pleaded insanity to avoid military service and some criminal charges. - Eivind

Update: the fake fly picture was used on purpose :D http://scienceblogs.com/pharyng... - Eivind

Straight from the "people will believe a big lie" school of thought.... - Edward Zwart

Well, you know quite much about him :) up! - Beste Arfin Kiriloğlu

when I was an student our biology teacher asked us to present lectures about evolution theory and Quran. someone summarized her lecture as: Quran confirms evolution, another student had an opposite idea. in my lecture I said if you are an evolutionist and a Muslim at the same time naturally you would try to make interpretation of holy verses in accordance with your idea about evolution. and if you are a creationist then you will try interpretation of the holy verses in accordance with your creationist point of view. our teacher asked me: well what's your own idea? I said there is no correlation between Quran and biology, Quran does not teach us biology so both of the above ideas are meaningless. - Café ✓

If only everybody could at least agree that there's no science to be be found in the ancient 'holy' books... - Eivind

I think in long term Muslims will come closer to a point similar to what you mentioned above but it will take a long time perhaps several generations. about 70 years ago some Muslims did not accept sanitation with chemicals specially alcohol some of them even rejected soap! because they thought Islam teaches us how to be hygienic and the chemical sanitation is something unhallowed but today most of them confirmed that Islam do not teach us medicine but still many Muslims are in doubt about social science for example they talk about Islamic management, Islamic human rights, etc. Ayatollah Khameheni the supreme leader recently said universities must work on Islamization of social science. he said we do not need so many social science students! in these regards they eliminated some university majors and they decreased the capacity of the universities for social science students - Café ✓

Evolution is a lie and dinosaurs never existed, the lord put those fossils there to test our faith (my foot-- for the lack of a better expression). - سيما كيا Sima kia

Dinosaur bones are obviously leftovers from Nephilim picnic's Sima. What do you think those freaks are doing to the cows they keep abducting ? - Key West