Fethullah Gulen, the contentious Turkish cleric and former ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has died at the age of 83. He had been living in the United States since 1999, primarily in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains, and was known to have experienced declining health in recent years.
The government of Turkey has long held Gulen accountable for the failed coup attempt in 2016, accusing him of masterminding the plot and operating a criminal organization that infiltrated various state institutions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed Gulen’s death, labeling him the head of a “dark organization” and emphasizing that Turkey’s resolve in combating terrorism would persist despite his passing.
Gulen initially gained attention as a preacher in the 1960s in Izmir, where he established a network of educational institutions known as “lighthouses,” which provided academic support to students. Over time, he expanded this network to include schools and various non-profit organizations. His supporters opened more than 1,000 schools across 160 countries, which offered quality education and produced many influential figures in Turkey’s judiciary and bureaucracy.
After relocating to the United States in 1999, Gulen faced a conviction in absentia for conspiring to overthrow the state, which was later cited by the Turkish government in connection to the coup attempt.
In the early 2000s, Gulen and Erdogan’s political party were allies, but tensions eventually escalated. The relationship deteriorated following corruption investigations against members of Erdogan’s inner circle, which Erdogan accused Gulen of orchestrating, claiming he was creating a “parallel state” within Turkey. Gulen denied these charges.
Following the 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds and mass purges of individuals believed to support Gulen, the Turkish government designated his movement as the Fethullah Terrorist Organization (FETO). Despite numerous requests for extradition, the U.S. government maintained that there was insufficient evidence linking Gulen to the coup.
In the years following the coup, many of Gulen’s schools and organizations were closed, and numerous followers faced imprisonment or exile. Meanwhile, his movement continued to function internationally, albeit with reduced visibility. Gulen, who never married, remained a polarizing figure both inside and outside Turkey.