Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish cleric and mastermind behind the failed military coup in Turkiye in 2016, has died in the United States at the age of 83.
His death was confirmed by Turkish media and a website affiliated with Gulen, stating that he passed away after a brief illness in a US hospital.
Gulen was a former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and was a key figure in the Hizmet movement, which established a powerful network in Turkiye and abroad. The cleric had been living in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999.
Following a rift with Erdogan, the two leaders exchanged accusations of corruption, leading to Gulen’s estrangement from the Turkish government. In the wake of the July 15 2016 coup attempt, Erdogan accused Gulen of orchestrating the uprising, an allegation that Gülen vehemently denied.
Gulen’s movement, known as Hizmet, which translates to “service” in Turkish, sought to promote his own interpretation of Islam, advocating for Western-style education, free markets, and interfaith dialogue.
Gulen’s relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was initially one of partnership, as both aligned to challenge the traditional secularist policies of the Turkish state.
However, their alliance soured significantly after corruption investigations targeting Erdogan’s inner circle emerged in 2013, which were believed to have been instigated by Gulen’s followers.
