Turkish televangelist taunts caged kangaroo by throwing punches at the animal

This is the moment a Turkish televangelist taunted a caged kangaroo by throwing punches at the frightened animal.

Footage posted on social media shows Tuncer Ciftci, a self-styled prophet, lunging at the animal at a zoo in Turkey.

At one point he grabs the top of the fence and attempts to headbutt the marsupial while someone filming can be heard chuckling in the background.

But the animal stands its ground and repeatedly dodges Ciftci’s blows, ducking its head in an attempt to avoid being hit.

Footage posted on social media shows Tuncer Ciftci, a self-styled prophet, lunging at the animal at a zoo in Turkey

The clip is understood to have been captured on July 28 at a zoo in Turkey. 

Ciftci claims to be the Mahdi, who some Muslims believe is the redeemer of Islam and will rid the world of evil before the Day of Judgement.

The self-styled prophet also raised eyebrows after a video emrged of him urging followers to dive into a pool beneath a waterfall to prove their love to him.

In the footage he says: ‘Those who love me most will go under the waterfall.’

Twitter users were appalled after footage of him taunting the kangaroo emerged.

At one point he grabs the top of the fence and attempts to headbutt the marsupial while someone filming can be heard chuckling in the background

One social media user Onur Ugur said: ‘I congratulate Mr Kangaroo for its restraint against such an abusive animal.’

Yunus Karakoc said: ‘The fact that the kangaroo looks smarter is causing me to question humanity.’

‘It seems the kangaroo was initially appalled. Then it decided the man was just a lunatic, so it didn’t hit back,’ Can Gürses added.