Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü

The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office on April 21 ruled against trying a Muslim televangelist who said "playing chess is more sinful than gambling," state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Turkish EU Minister Ömer Çelik has criticized the statement by televangelist Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, popularly known as "Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca" (Robbed Ahmet Hoca), condemning chess as "sinful," saying he himself plays chess and advises everyone to do so.

The Turkish Chess Federation (TSF) stated on Jan. 3 that it has launched legal proceedings against a Turkish televangelist who recently claimed that playing chess is more sinful than gambling.

Turkish televangelist Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, popularly known as "Cübbeli" Ahmet Hoca (Robed Ahmet Hoca), has raised eyebrows by claiming that playing chess is more sinful than gambling, daily Hürriyet reported on Jan. 2.

Ünlü said chess players were "cursed" and claimed that "most people who played chess are liars."  

A number of religious movements in Turkey have canceled events scheduled to be held on Dec. 25.

The movements announced that their meetings would be held over the internet, as they refrained from explaining the reasons for the cancelations in their announcements over Twitter.

A Turkish theologian who recently drew attention for describing ?advanced oral sex? as ?haram? (forbidden) in Islam, has responded to the criticisms of a televangelist in reaction, accusing his rival of being ?shameless.? 

A popular Muslim televangelist in Turkey has opposed a recent statement by a colleague, who had declared "advanced oral sex" to be forbidden by Islam.

"Do not invent a lie on behalf of Allah," said Ahmet Mahmut Ünlü, popularly known as "Cübbeli Ahmet Hoca" (Robed Ahmet Hoca) among his followers, during his latest televised sermon.