In brief
Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric and former ally turned rival of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has died at the age of 83. Gulen had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and was a central figure in Turkey's political landscape, particularly following the failed coup attempt in 2016.
Fethullah Gulen, the prominent Islamic cleric who once supported Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has passed away at the age of 83. His death occurred late Sunday in a U.S. hospital, as announced by Herkul, a website that documented his teachings. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Gulen initially collaborated with Erdogan, leveraging the support of his followers as they navigated Turkey’s complex political terrain. However, their relationship soured dramatically after the failed coup attempt on July 15, 2016, which led to the Turkish government labeling Gulen's movement, Hizmet, as a terrorist organization. Emerging from humble beginnings as a provincial preacher in Turkey, Gulen founded Hizmet, a movement that sought to promote education, science, and interfaith dialogue within an Islamic context, while advocating for free-market principles. This initiative gained international reach, establishing numerous schools across various nations. However, many in Turkey criticized Gulen and his followers, known as Gulenists, accusing them of having ulterior motives and of collaborating with Erdogan's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) to diminish the secular foundations of the Turkish Republic. The alliance between Gulen and Erdogan began to decline around a decade ago, culminating in the aftermath of the coup attempt where approximately 250 individuals lost their lives. Erdogan accused Gulen of orchestrating the coup, which prompted widespread purges within the military and civil service, with tens of thousands detained or dismissed from their roles. In reaction to the coup failure, Gulen denied any involvement, leading to allegations from Turkish officials that he was an American operative aimed at destabilizing Turkey. Over the years, Turkey sought Gulen's extradition, but the U.S. ultimately declined to comply, straining diplomatic relations between the two countries.Gulen spent his later years in relative seclusion in Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, as his movement's influence faded significantly in Turkey due to ongoing government crackdowns and the closing of schools and media affiliated with him.
