Turkish Islamic Leader Fethullah Gulen Passes Away in Pennsylvania at 83

Fethullah Gulen, Accused of Inciting Turkey’s 2016 Coup, Dies in U.S. at 83

Pennsylvania, USA: Fethullah Gulen, the influential Turkish Islamic preacher and leader of the Gulen movement, has died at the age of 83. He passed away in a hospital in Pennsylvania, where he had been living in self-imposed exile since 1999. Gulen’s movement, which promotes education and moderate Islam, has been a source of significant controversy, particularly following the failed military coup in Turkey in 2016.

Accused by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of orchestrating the coup attempt, Gulen denied any involvement, asserting that he wanted to see a democratic Turkey. His movement, once seen as an ally of Erdogan, fell from grace after a series of corruption allegations emerged against the president and his associates in 2013. Gulen’s followers have since been labeled as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government, leading to widespread purges across various sectors, including the military, academia, and law enforcement.

During his tenure, Gulen was considered the second most powerful figure in Turkey, with a network of supporters spanning the globe. His teachings emphasized education as a means to reform the youth of Turkey, and he established numerous schools and institutions both domestically and internationally. The Turkish government’s crackdown on Gulen’s supporters has resulted in thousands fleeing the country out of fear of persecution. With Gulen’s passing, questions arise about the future of the movement he founded and its influence in Turkey, where it once held considerable sway.