Fethullah Gulen: A Controversial Figure
Fethullah Gulen, the Turkish religious leader who founded the Gulen Movement, passed away in Pennsylvania, USA, on a Sunday night at the age of 83. Gulen and his movement were accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating a failed military coup in July 2016, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Turkish citizens.
The Gulen Movement has consistently denied involvement in the coup attempt. However, its role in the coup attempt is widely accepted across Turkish society, including by opponents of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Herkul, an official website that releases updates on Gulen’s activities, reported that he died in a hospital while receiving treatment for chronic illnesses. The website added that a detailed report on his health condition and funeral arrangements would be released later.
Legacy of Gulen's Movement
Gulen's passing marks the end of an era in Turkish politics. Born in 1941, Gulen established himself as an imam in Turkey in the 1970s and later founded a well-organized religious movement to spread his beliefs. The movement expanded globally through a network of Turkish schools in over 100 countries.
The Gulen Movement, centered around Gulen himself, claimed to follow the teachings of the late Islamic cleric and Sufi, Said Nursi. Gulen transformed the group into a fully-fledged political movement, with followers practicing a form of entryism, actively recruiting individuals and placing them into key state institutions such as the police, judiciary, and military.
Initial Alliance with Erdogan
In its early stages, the Gulen Movement's policies aligned with the mainstream religious conservative movement, led by current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Conservatives welcomed attempts to make the military and judiciary less hostile to religious groups, as these institutions had historically suppressed the role of Islam in Turkish politics.
In the midst of this repression, Gulen relocated to the US in 1999 due to health reasons and never returned to Turkey. From his base in the US, Gulen's movement established schools, a media conglomerate, and business unions. Networks of dormitories and student houses operating under the Gulen banner were used as recruiting grounds for the movement.
When Erdogan assumed office as prime minister in 2003, Gulen already had a large network of followers within the state, which had previously been dominated by Turkish nationalists and secularists.
Break with Erdogan
Erdogan’s first significant disagreement with Gulen occurred during the Israeli attack on a Gaza flotilla in 2010. Gulen criticized the flotilla as being too risky and condemned the government for allowing the boat to sail. Another point of contention was the 2013 peace process between the Turkish government and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which Gulen opposed.
The final split occurred in December 2013 during a corruption inquiry into three ministers within the Erdogan government. Erdogan accused Gulen and his movement of attempting to use their influence in the judiciary and police to topple his government through fabricated charges.
Post-Coup Crackdown
After Erdogan won local elections a few months after the inquiry, he began his move against the Gulen Movement, removing individuals associated with the group from state service and declaring them terrorists. The government also targeted Gulen-linked companies, media outlets, and schools. This crackdown intensified after the 2016 coup attempt, resulting in the dismissal and arrest of tens of thousands of civil servants and other state employees.
Gulen’s presence in the US also became a point of tension with Washington, which did not immediately condemn the coup attempt. Ankara's official demand for the US to return Gulen to Turkey were repeatedly ignored by the Americans, citing a lack of evidence implicating Gulen in the plot.
Future of the Gulen Movement
The Gulen Movement, which operates more than 100 charter schools in the US, has established lobbying groups to pressure Congress on alleged human rights abuses taking place in Turkey. However, the group is marred with division. Earlier this year, Gulen's nephew accused the movement's leadership of knowing and approving the 2016 coup attempt by empowering people close to Gulen to participate in the insurrection while misleading Gulen about their involvement.
Turkish sources familiar with the issue stated that there would be a leadership crisis within the movement following Gulen's death. Cevdet Turkyolu, one of Gulen's lieutenants in Pennsylvania, and Abdullah Aymaz, the current leader of the group in Europe, are expected to compete for the top position in the coming days.
Bottom Line
The death of Fethullah Gulen marks the end of a tumultuous era in Turkish politics. His influence and the actions of his movement have had significant impacts on the country's political landscape. As the Gulen Movement faces a leadership crisis, it remains to be seen how this will affect its future. What are your thoughts on this matter? Don't forget to share this article with your friends. Sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.
