Fethullah Gulen, a prominent Turkish cleric who lived in exile in the United States, has died at the age of 83. He passed away amidst shaky health, though the specific cause of death has not been disclosed. Gulen had resided in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains since 1999, living in accommodations provided by the Golden Generation Foundation, a nonprofit entity supported by his followers.
Gulen, who once enjoyed considerable influence, particularly during the early 2000s as an ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, eventually became a controversial figure in Turkey. He was accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating a criminal organization that infiltrated various state institutions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan confirmed Gulen’s death, labeling him as the leader of a “dark organisation” and emphasizing that Turkey’s resolve in combating terrorism would not wane with his passing.
Gulen gained prominence in the 1960s as a preacher in Izmir, establishing a network of “lighthouses” for students. Over time, this network expanded to include schools and charities, leading to the establishment of more than 1,000 schools in 160 countries. While these institutions were not strictly Islamic, they provided quality education, and many alumni later occupied influential positions in Turkey’s judiciary, police, and government.
In 1999, Gulen moved to the United States, with his supporters citing health reasons for the move, while critics suggested it was due to a government investigation into his actions. The following year, he was convicted in absentia for allegedly conspiring to overthrow the Turkish government, a charge that would become central to the accusations against him after the coup attempt in 2016.
His relationship with Erdogan’s government soured over time, particularly following corruption probes launched by police and prosecutors thought to be aligned with Gulen. Erdogan accused Gulen of attempting to create a “parallel state” in Turkey, a claim that Gulen denied.
Gulen was alleged to be behind the failed coup attempt on July 16, 2016, when factions within the military sought to unseat Erdogan. The coup resulted in significant violence, leading to hundreds of deaths and expansive purges within Turkish government institutions, judiciary, and military. Gulen’s followers faced severe repercussions, as many were imprisoned or forced into exile. Despite Turkey’s extradition requests for Gulen, U.S. officials cited a lack of evidence linking him directly to the coup.
Though Gulen never married, his legacy continues, with his international movement surviving, albeit with diminished visibility, as various countries responded to Turkey’s requests to close Gulen-affiliated institutions. In the United States, investigations into charter schools linked to his movement have raised issues of visa irregularities and potential fraud involving significant amounts of taxpayer money.