In brief
Gulen's death marks a significant moment in Turkish politics, given his tumultuous history with Erdogan and the fallout from the 2016 events.
Fethullah Gulen, an influential Islamic cleric and former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has died at the age of 83 in the United States. Gulen, who had been living in self-imposed exile since 1999, was a central figure in Turkey's political landscape before being accused of masterminding the 2016 attempted coup against Erdogan.His passing, confirmed through the social media account of Herkul, a website dedicated to his sermons, did not disclose the cause of death. Gulen began his journey in Turkey as a provincial preacher and later founded the Hizmet movement, which emphasized education, free-market principles, and interfaith dialogue. Initially, Gulen's followers were key political allies of Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), but a rift formed, culminating in the accusation that Gulen orchestrated a failed coup attempt in July 2016, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 people. In response, Erdogan's government launched a sweeping crackdown, leading to the arrest of 100,000 individuals and the removal of 150,000 public servants on charges linked to Gulenism.Gulen consistently denied any links to the coup, resorting to a life of seclusion in Pennsylvania, which further fueled speculations about his affiliation with U.S. interests. The Turkish government repeatedly sought his extradition, though the U.S. failed to comply, leading to protracted diplomatic tensions between the two nations. Gulen's death closes a chapter of intense rivalry that reshaped Turkey's political landscape and created a legacy of division regarding secularism and Islamism in the country. The Hizmet movement, which was once influential, has now been largely dismantled following the Turkish state's efforts to suppress its followers and allied institutions.
