Fethullah Gülen's Life and Legacy in Exile
Fethullah Gülen's Impact and Controversies
Fethullah Gülen, the infamous Muslim preacher, passed away at 83 in the United States where he had lived in exile since 1999. Accused by Turkey of orchestrating a failed coup against Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2016, Gülen's organization, often described as a cult, espoused a network of charitable enterprises called 'Hizmet' meaning 'Service' in Turkish.
Rise and Fall
Once a powerful ally of Erdoğan throughout the early 2000s, the relationship soured following a corruption scandal in 2013. Post-coup attempt, Turkey's government pursued a crackdown against his followers, resulting in the arrest of approximately 700,000 people, with many sentenced to life imprisonment for their alleged involvement.
Global Responses
The Turkish government's broad crackdown and purges led to more than 125,000 firings across public sectors, including military personnel and judges. The government initiated operations internationally to detain suspected Gülenists in several regions worldwide.
This article was prepared using information from open sources in accordance with the principles of Ethical Policy. The editorial team is not responsible for absolute accuracy, as it relies on data from the sources referenced.