Fethullah Gulen, a US-based cleric and former ally of Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, passed away at the age of 83 on October 21, 2024. Gulen had lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, following a fallout with Erdogan that escalated after corruption investigations in 2013. He was widely accused of orchestrating the failed coup attempt against Erdogan's government in 2016, which resulted in 250 deaths and led to a massive crackdown, with over 77,000 arrests and 150,000 state workers suspended [2e6b5f8c].
Gulen was born in Erzurum, Turkey, in 1941 and became a prominent preacher in the 1960s, founding the Hizmet movement, which promoted moderate Islam and Western-style education. Despite his denial of involvement in the coup attempt, Gulen's legacy remains controversial, with many in Turkey viewing him as a key figure in the political turmoil that has plagued the nation in recent years [2e6b5f8c].
This backdrop of political strife is further complicated by recent events in Turkey, including the arrest of 15 members of the anti-American Turkish Youth Union (TGB) for assaulting two US servicemen in Izmir. The TGB claimed responsibility for the attack, which occurred while the USS Wasp was docked in the city for joint military exercises with Turkish forces. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of US military personnel in Turkey and may further strain US-Turkey relations [874e0dec].
As Gulen's death reverberates through the political landscape, the implications for Erdogan's government and its ongoing conflicts with nationalist groups and foreign relations remain to be seen [2e6b5f8c].