The news of the passing of Fethullah Gulen, the U.S.-based cleric who founded a powerful Islamic movement in Turkey, has been confirmed. The 83-year-old former ally turned rival of Turkish leader Tayyip Erdogan died in a U.S. hospital where he was receiving treatment. Gulen, known to his followers as Hodjaefendi, was born in 1941 in Turkey and rose to prominence as a preacher in the 1960s. He later established an influential network promoting a moderate form of Islam.
Accused of orchestrating the failed coup against Erdogan in 2016, Gulen denied involvement and condemned the attempt. Following the coup, his movement, “Hizmet,” was labeled a terrorist group, leading to a systematic dismantling in Turkey and a decline in international influence.
Despite efforts to extradite him back to Turkey, Gulen remained in the U.S., where he faced a criminal investigation. His death marks the end of a controversial era for the cleric whose legacy includes a complex relationship with Erdogan and a network that spanned across borders.