Author: Ian Aikman

Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish cleric accused of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, has passed away at the age of 83. Gulen, once considered Turkey’s second most powerful figure, advocated for education as a solution for lost youth. His movement, Hizmet, focused on promoting a tolerant form of Islam emphasizing altruism and hard work. However, tensions rose between Gulen and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, culminating in the government labeling Hizmet a terrorist group in 2016. Following the attempted coup, Erdogan blamed Gulen and initiated a crackdown on supposed Gulen supporters within the military and government. Despite living in the…