Fethullah Gülen, the exiled Turkish cleric who was accused by the Ankara government of masterminding the failed coup to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in 2016, has passed away in the US. The news of his death was confirmed by Turkish media and a website affiliated with Gülen. Gülen, 83, had been living in Pennsylvania in self-imposed exile after a falling out with Erdoğan and his party.
The attempted coup in Turkey in 2016 resulted in the deaths of 251 people and thousands more injured. Gülen, the founder of the Hizmet movement, also known as FETÖ by the Turkish government, was accused of running a vast network encompassing thousands of individuals in influential positions. Following the coup, the Turkish government conducted widespread arrests and suspensions, targeting anyone believed to be associated with the Hizmet movement.
Gülen consistently denied any involvement in the coup, stating that he was not familiar with the vast majority of individuals associated with the movement. He maintained that he had simply voiced his beliefs and had not taken any active role in orchestrating the events of 2016. Despite the accusations and crackdowns by the Turkish government, Gülen remained steadfast in his denial of any wrongdoing.
The death of Gülen marks the end of a controversial chapter in Turkish politics. His passing raises questions about the future of the Hizmet movement and its followers, as well as the ongoing tensions between Gülen supporters and the Ankara government.
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