A reclusive imam in Pennsylvania became the central figure in Turkey's modern political turmoil.

Ideas & Philosophy · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Fethullah Gülen built a global network of schools and civil society organizations, transforming from a key ally of the Turkish government into its most accused enemy. After moving to the United States in 1999, he was blamed for a 2016 coup attempt, sparking a massive, controversial purge across Turkey.

Born in 1941, Fethullah Gülen emerged as a prominent Islamic scholar influenced by the teachings of Said Nursi, who advocated for the compatibility of faith with modern science and reason. Gülen’s own movement, known as Hizmet, or 'service,' focused on education and civic engagement. By establishing a vast network of boarding houses and schools, he encouraged followers to enter civil service and bureaucratic roles, aiming to integrate religious morality into the public sphere while maintaining a commitment to secular education standards.

The movement’s trajectory shifted dramatically through its relationship with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP). Initially, Gülen and his supporters provided critical administrative and political backing for the AKP’s rise. However, this tactical alliance fractured by the early 2010s. Tensions peaked in 2013 following a major corruption scandal involving AKP officials, which the government alleged was orchestrated by Gülen-linked investigators. The situation escalated further in 2016 when the Turkish government accused Gülen of masterminding a failed coup attempt.

In the aftermath, the Turkish government designated the Hizmet movement as the 'Fethullah Terror Organization' (FETO). This led to a sweeping purge, with hundreds of thousands of individuals arrested or removed from their positions. Despite these accusations, Gülen, who lived in self-exile in Pennsylvania from 1999 until his death in 2024, consistently denied involvement. International bodies, including the United States and the European Union, have not recognized the movement as a terrorist organization, citing a lack of credible evidence to support the Turkish government's claims.

Gülen’s legacy remains deeply polarized. To his supporters, he was a proponent of interfaith dialogue, education, and altruism. To his detractors, particularly within the Turkish state, he was a subversive figure who sought to undermine constitutional institutions. His death in October 2024 marked the end of a life defined by this intense, global controversy, leaving behind a movement that had once spanned over 150 countries but was systematically dismantled within its home nation.

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