Fethullah Gülen, U.S.-based cleric accused of masterminding 2016 coup attempt in native Turkey, has died
CBSOCT 20 2024
Gulen, who lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, was accused by Turkish President Erdogan of orchestrating the failed 2016 coup attempt, which he denied.
The Gulen movement, known as 'Hizmet', spread its influence through education, business, and media, promoting a moderate brand of Islam with Western-style education and interfaith communication.
Following the coup attempt, Turkey designated Gulen's movement as a terrorist organization, leading to mass arrests and purges of suspected followers.
Gulen's Hizmet movement promoted a moderate, progressive form of Islam that embraced education and interfaith dialogue. The accusations of involvement in the coup attempt were baseless, and the subsequent crackdown was an unjustified purge of political opponents and a blow to civil liberties.