Fethullah Gulen, the controversial Turkish cleric who had been living in exile in the United States, has died at the age of 83. His passing was confirmed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who referred to Gulen as the leader of a “dark organisation” and emphasized that Turkey’s fight against terrorism would persist despite the news of his death.
Gulen, who was known to be in poor health, had resided in Pennsylvania since 1999, living on a compound owned by the Golden Generation Foundation, an organization run by his supporters. Although he reduced his public presence in his later years, he continued to communicate with his followers, advocating for education, dialogue, and peaceful activism.
In Turkey, Gulen became a notorious figure, accused of orchestrating a criminal network that infiltrated state institutions. He first gained prominence as a preacher in the 1960s, establishing a network of boarding houses that provided academic support to students. His influence grew over the years as he expanded into schools, charities, and civil society organizations, leading to the establishment of over 1,000 schools worldwide.
Gulen moved to the US in 1999, during a time when he faced a government investigation in Turkey. He was convicted in absentia for attempting to overthrow the state, a charge that was used against him after the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which he was accused of orchestrating.
Initially allied with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling party, tensions between the two escalated when corruption probes led to accusations that Gulen was attempting to create a “parallel state.” After the failed coup in 2016, the Turkish government initiated a widespread purge of Gulen supporters from various state institutions, designating Gulen’s movement as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Despite extradition requests from Turkey, Gulen remained in the US, where the movement continued to operate with decreased visibility. Some of the affiliated charter schools faced investigations for various irregularities.
Fethullah Gulen never married.