Controversial Turkish Cleric Gulen Dies in US Exile
FethullahControversial Turkish Cleric Gulen diesDies atin 83US Exile
The Facts
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.
The Spin
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.
