Fethullah Gülen, a prominent self-exiled Islamic cleric based in the United States, has passed away in Pennsylvania at the age of eighty. Known for his influential role in a global social movement, Gülen faced accusations of orchestrating a failed coup in Turkey in 2016. His death was confirmed by his nephew, Kemal Gülen, and acknowledged by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who described him as the leader of a “dark organization.”
Gülen had been living in self-imposed exile in a secured compound in Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains for decades, where he continued to influence millions of followers with his teachings that blended Sufism with strong advocacy for democracy, education, science, and interfaith dialogue.
He initially allied with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but later became his adversary, calling Erdogan an authoritarian. After the coup attempt on July 15, 2016, which resulted in the deaths of 251 people and thousands injured, Erdogan blamed Gülen, who denied any involvement.
Following the coup, the Turkish government launched a widespread crackdown on Gülen’s followers, leading to mass arrests and the closure of numerous institutions linked to his movement, known as Hizmet. Gülen criticized this crackdown as a witch hunt, declaring that innocent citizens were being persecuted due to their alleged connections to him or his movement.
Fidan emphasized that Gülen’s death marks neither complacency nor an end to the fight against the movement, which he labeled a significant threat to the nation. Gülen had been advocating for harmony between religion and science and was born in Erzurum, Turkey, around 1941, though his exact birth date has been contested.
Trained as an imam, he rose to prominence in Turkey by promoting inter-faith tolerance and blending religious beliefs with western values, amassing millions of followers. His network encompassed charitable foundations, schools, and various enterprises across over 100 countries, including numerous charter schools in the United States.
While he had avoided political affiliations, Gülen’s movement initially supported Erdogan’s government but later criticized it, leading to a strain in their relationship. Gülen settled in the U.S. in 1999 and faced a series of charges, though he was acquitted in absentia. He remained largely out of the public eye, focusing on prayer and meditation while experiencing declining health.
The future leadership of Gülen’s movement remains uncertain following his death, as he never married and had no children.