By ggablog 
Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Muslim preacher, has passed away in the United States at the age of 83. Gulen was a former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but their relationship soured, and Erdogan accused him of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016 ¹. Gulen had been living in self-imposed exile in the US since 1999 and consistently denied involvement in the coup.
Gulen’s movement, known as “Hizmet” or “service” in Turkish, aimed to promote a moderate brand of Islam that emphasizes Western-style education, free markets, and interfaith communication. His network spanned across Turkey, Central Asia, the Balkans, Africa, and the West through schools and educational institutions.
However, his influence declined significantly after the failed coup, and his movement was systematically dismantled in Turkey. Erdogan’s government designated Gulen’s movement as a terrorist organization and seized assets linked to him.
Gulen’s death marks the end of an era for his followers, who knew him as “Hodjaefendi” or respected teacher. His legacy remains complex, with some viewing him as a champion of moderate Islam and others seeing him as a threat to Turkey’s secular foundations.