THE 500 MOST INFLUENTIAL MUSLIMS - CESD

44His ExcellencyProfessor DrEkmelledin IhsanogluSecretary General of theOrganization of the IslamicConferenceCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: 1943Source of Influence: Administrative,PoliticalInfluence: Leader of an organizationcomprised of 57 Muslim-majority statesSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:44 · 2009:40 Ihsanoglu is Secretary General of theOrganization of the Islamic Conference(OIC)—the largest inter-governmentalMuslim organization in the world, and thesecond largest public organization afterthe United Nations.Voice for the Muslim WorldIhsanoglu is also influential in that he leadsthe only pan-Islamic inter-governmentalorganization in the world. The OIC oftenhas more influence over certain issues thanother organizations do, and can have a keyrole to play in world events, being more inclusivethan the Arab League and also ableto tackle specific injustices that the UnitedNations Security Council cannot.Reviving the OICThe OIC has recently had a radical overhaulof its practices, and aims. Under Ihsanoglu’sleadership the organization’s remit haswidened from its previously staple issuesof Islamic solidarity towards more immediatehumanitarian concerns of economicand social deprivation around the Muslimworld, making the organization more akinto the United Nations in its work. In January2010, Ihsanoglu called for the creationof a Peace & Security Council as well as anIslamic Court of Justice to adjudicate betweenmember states of the OIC.45Adnan OktarAuthority on IslamicCreationismCountry: TurkeyDate of Birth: February 1956Source of Influence: Scholarly, ScientificInfluence: The world’s foremost authorityon Creationism and Islam, has ahuge fan base of more than 1.6 millionpeopleSchool of Thought: Traditional SunniRank: 2010:45Writing under the pen name Harun Yahya,Adnan Oktar has gained internationalprominence as a spokesperson for creationismbut also garners influence fromhis numerous and extensively distributedpublications about Islam, and Islamic children’sbooks. He is vocal about his stanceagainst concepts such as Darwinism andmaterialism and is outspoken on the necessityto implement these ideas in theWest.Prominent Pro-CreationistOktar is a pioneer spokesperson for creationismin Islam. His most notable publicationis The Atlas of Creation which wasdistributed in Europe by the thousands. Init Oktar elucidates the Muslim view of theend of times and Qur’anic proofs againstDarwinism. His extensive publications andviews have won him 1.6 million votes on anonline Reuters Faith World poll conductedby journalist Tom Heneghan in 2009 for‘the world’s most influential Muslim.’Leader of Scientific MovementIn 1990 Oktar founded the Scientific ResearchFoundation (Bilim Aratırma Vakf ),whose members are commonly identifiedas Adnan Hocacılar, or ‘Adherents ofAdnan Oktar.’ Oktar is also known to havecountless ghostwriters produce widely distributedworks on Zionism, Nazism, communismand Buddhism in his name.87