Fethullah Gulen, an exiled Turkish cleric blamed for the 2016 coup, passed away at the age of 83 due to health issues in a hospital. His death was confirmed by groups associated with him on social media.
Who Was Fethullah Gulen?
Gulen was once a powerful figure in Turkey, leading the “Hizmet” movement, which means “service” in Turkish. His movement began with opening schools in Turkey and later spread worldwide. Gulen promoted a moderate form of Islam that focused on education, hard work, and charity. Followers of Hizmet became a big group that impacted education, business, media, and the Turkish government.
Gulen was initially allied with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.They wanted to improve Turkish society together, and Gulen’s movement had a strong impact on the government. However, their relationship turned bad by 2013. Erdogan blamed Gulen’s followers for trying to weaken his government, especially when investigations into corruption started focusing on Erdogan’s friends.
In 2016, things got very tense when a part of the Turkish military tried to take control of the government. More than 250 people were killed in the violence, and Erdogan quickly accused Gulen of being behind the coup, while Gulen said he had nothing to do with it.
Life in Exile and Turkey’s Crackdown
Since 1999, Gulen has been living in exile in the United States, where he kept leading his movement from a distance. Turkey tried several times to bring him back, but the U.S. government needed proof that he was connected to the coup, which Turkey couldn’t give.
After the failed coup, Erdogan’s government began a big attack on Gulen’s followers. Thousands were arrested, including military officers, teachers, and government officials. Many businesses and schools linked to Gulen were shut down or seized by the state, and the Hizmet movement was labeled a terrorist organization.
Legacy of Controversy
Gulen’s followers still see him as a respected spiritual leader who promoted education and peaceful values. However, in Turkey, people see him as a controversial figure who is accused of trying to weaken the government and attack the country’s secular traditions.
As his health declined in recent years, Gulen continued to live in Pennsylvania, maintaining influence over his global followers. His death marks the end of a chapter in modern Turkish history, but his legacy—both positive and negative—will continue to spark discussions about the country’s future.