In brief
Fethullah Gulen, who faced accusations of orchestrating a coup against Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016, has died in exile at the age of 83. His death marks a significant moment in Turkish politics, underscoring the fraught relationship between his movement and the Erdogan administration.
Fethullah Gulen, the influential Turkish cleric and former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has died at the age of 83 while living in self-imposed exile in the United States. Gulen, who passed away late Sunday in a hospital, was a prominent figure known for founding the Hizmet movement, which emphasized education and interfaith dialogue, shaping the lives of many in Turkey and abroad. Initially, Gulen supported Erdogan but the alliance soured after a failed coup attempt in 2016, which Erdogan accused Gulen of masterminding – a claim Gulen consistently denied. This accusation led to an extensive governmental crackdown on Gulen's followers in Turkey and instigated years of diplomatic friction between Turkey and the U.S., which refused to extradite the cleric.Gulen's journey began in Turkey as a local preacher and evolved into a powerful international organization, yet as his influence grew, so did suspicions against him. The movement's alignment with Erdogan’s Islamist agenda created tensions, ultimately resulting in a rift that transformed Gulenists from allies to targets.In the wake of the coup attempt, Erdogan’s government declared the Gulen movement a terrorist organization, triggering mass arrests and purges, which dismantled Gulenist institutions across Turkey. Although long in exile, Gulen's legacy is far from settled, leaving a deep impact on Turkey’s political landscape.As the nation reflects on Gulen's life and influence, questions linger regarding the future of his movement and the unresolved tensions that remain between opposing factions in Turkish society.
