Fethullah Gulen, the controversial Turkish cleric who lived in exile in the United States, has died at the age of 83. He was accused of masterminding Turkey’s failed coup attempt in 2016.
Although the cause of his death has not been disclosed, it was known that he had been in declining health. Gulen had been living in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania since 1999, residing in an apartment on a compound owned by the Golden Generation Foundation, a nonprofit established by his supporters in the U.S.
Even in his later years, Gulen had limited public appearances but continued to publish statements and writings encouraging his followers to focus on education, dialogue, and peaceful activism. In Turkey, however, he became a divisive figure, with the government accusing him of running a criminal organization that infiltrated state institutions.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed Gulen’s passing and described him as the leader of a “dark organization”. He emphasized that Turkey’s resolve in the fight against terrorism would not waver and that Gulen’s death would not lead to complacency.
Gulen rose to prominence in the 1960s in Izmir, Turkey, establishing a network of boarding houses known as “lighthouses” to support students academically. He expanded this network to include schools, charities, and various civil society organizations, ultimately leading to the opening of over 1,000 schools across 160 countries. These institutions provided high-quality education and produced many graduates who attained significant positions in Turkey’s judiciary, police, and bureaucracy.
His supporters also founded the influential Zaman newspaper in 1986 and Samanyolu Television in 1993. In 1996, they further expanded their reach by creating Bank Asya.
In 1999, Gulen moved to the United States, citing health reasons, though critics speculated that his departure was due to a government investigation into his activities, which were seen as threatening to the Turkish government. The following year, he was convicted in absentia of plotting to overthrow the state, a conviction that would later be referenced following the 2016 coup attempt.
In the early 2000s, Gulen’s followers aligned closely with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), allowing many of them to rise to powerful positions in the government. However, tensions surfaced by 2013 when police and prosecutors linked to Gulen initiated corruption probes into Erdogan’s inner circle, leading Erdogan to accuse Gulen of employing his network to create a “parallel state” within Turkey.
Gulen denied these allegations. On July 16, 2016, factions in the military attempted to overthrow Erdogan’s government, resulting in the bloodiest coup attempt in modern Turkish history. In the aftermath, the government purged thousands of individuals suspected of supporting Gulen, designating his movement as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO).
Turkey made several extradition requests for Gulen, but U.S. officials stated that there was insufficient evidence tying him directly to the coup. The purges following the coup marked a significant decline for Gulen’s followers, with many organizations affiliated with him shut down and numerous supporters imprisoned or forced into exile.
Though the movement continues to operate internationally, it has diminished in visibility, especially in nations where Turkey sought to close Gulen-affiliated institutions. In the U.S., several charter schools linked to his organizations have faced investigations for visa irregularities and alleged financial misconduct.
Fethullah Gulen remained unmarried throughout his life.