What Happened to Muhammed Fethullah Gülen?
Fethullah Gülen was a Turkish Islamic scholar, preacher, and the influential leader of the Hizmet (Gülen) movement. He lived in self-imposed exile in the United States from 1999, facing accusations from the Turkish government, led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, of orchestrating the failed 2016 coup attempt. Gülen consistently denied these allegations until his death on October 20, 2024, in Pennsylvania, U.S.. Despite his passing, the Turkish government continues its extensive crackdown on individuals and organizations alleged to have links to the Gülen movement as of early 2026.
Quick Answer
Fethullah Gülen, the influential Turkish Islamic cleric and leader of the Hizmet movement, died on October 20, 2024, at the age of 83 in Pennsylvania, United States, where he had lived in self-imposed exile since 1999. He was accused by the Turkish government of masterminding the 2016 coup attempt, an accusation he vehemently denied. Following his death, the Turkish government officially confirmed it in July 2025 and continues its widespread crackdown on individuals and entities associated with the Gülen movement, with thousands arrested and investigated in 2025 and early 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Born in Korucuk, Turkey
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen was born in a small village near Turkey's Erzurum province.
Appointed as an Imam
Gülen began his formal religious career, being appointed as an imam affiliated with the Presidency of Religious Affairs.
Hizmet Movement Gains Prominence
Gülen's teachings and initiatives led to the establishment of a widespread social movement, Hizmet, known for its schools and interfaith dialogue.
Relocates to the United States
Gülen moved to the U.S. for medical treatment and remained there in self-exile, settling near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.
Corruption Investigations and Rift with Erdoğan
Corruption investigations implicating then-Prime Minister Erdoğan and his inner circle led to a severe deterioration of relations between Erdoğan and the Gülen movement.
Gülen Movement Designated as Terrorist Organization (FETÖ)
The Turkish government officially declared the Gülen movement a 'terrorist organization,' referring to it as FETÖ.
Failed Coup Attempt in Turkey
A faction within the Turkish military attempted a coup, which President Erdoğan immediately blamed on Fethullah Gülen and his movement.
Turkish Citizenship Revoked
The Turkish government stripped Fethullah Gülen of his Turkish citizenship.
Death in Pennsylvania, U.S.
Fethullah Gülen died at the age of 83 in a hospital in Pennsylvania, U.S., due to heart and kidney failure. His death was confirmed by his followers and Turkish intelligence.
US Officially Confirms Gülen's Death to Turkey
The U.S. State Department officially informed Turkish authorities of Gülen's death, leading to its formal registration in Turkey's civil registry.
1,601 Arrests in Turkey for Gülen Links
Turkish Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya announced that 1,601 people were arrested in 2025 over alleged links to the Gülen movement, bringing the total since 2016 to 390,354 detentions.
132 Detained in Latest Operations
Turkish authorities detained 132 people in two separate operations across multiple provinces as part of the ongoing crackdown on alleged Gülen movement members.
Turkey Blocks Nearly 400 Gülen-linked Social Media Accounts
Turkey's Communications Directorate announced the blocking of 379 social media accounts it claims are linked to the Gülen movement, citing 'terrorist propaganda' and 'disinformation'.
16 Detained for Aiding Families of Jailed Gülen-linked Individuals
Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 16 people accused of distributing financial assistance to families of individuals jailed or dismissed over alleged links to the Gülen movement.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Muhammed Fethullah Gülen was a prominent Turkish Islamic scholar, preacher, and writer, born in 1941 in Korucuk, Turkey. He developed a theological perspective that blended Sufism with advocacy for democracy, education, science, and interfaith dialogue, inspiring a global civic society movement known as Hizmet, or the Gülen movement. This movement established a vast network of schools, charities, and businesses worldwide, gaining significant influence within Turkey's bureaucracy, judiciary, and police force.
Gülen relocated to the United States in March 1999 for medical treatment and remained there in self-exile near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania. Initially an ally of then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's Justice and Development Party (AKP), the relationship between Gülen and Erdoğan deteriorated significantly after corruption investigations in December 2013 implicated Erdoğan and his inner circle. Erdoğan dismissed these investigations as a 'judicial coup attempt' orchestrated by Gülen-linked police officers and began to target the movement.
The pivotal turning point came on July 15, 2016, when a faction within the Turkish Armed Forces attempted a coup d'état against the government. President Erdoğan immediately accused Gülen of masterminding the coup, designating the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization (FETÖ). Gülen vehemently denied any involvement and called for an international commission to investigate the failed coup. Despite repeated extradition requests from Turkey, the U.S. did not extradite Gülen, citing insufficient evidence.
In the aftermath of the coup attempt, Turkey launched an extensive crackdown on alleged Gülen movement supporters. This resulted in the arrest and detention of hundreds of thousands of people, the dismissal of over 130,000 public servants, the closure of numerous businesses, schools, and media organizations, and widespread human rights violations. Gülen's Turkish citizenship was revoked in 2017.
Fethullah Gülen died on October 20, 2024, at the age of 83, in a hospital in Pennsylvania, due to heart and kidney failure. His death was confirmed by his followers and Turkish intelligence sources. The U.S. State Department officially informed Turkey of his death in July 2025, leading to the formal registration of his death in Turkey's civil registry. Despite his death, the Turkish government's crackdown on the Gülen movement continues relentlessly. As of early 2026, Turkish authorities are still conducting operations, detaining hundreds of individuals, and blocking social media accounts over alleged links to the movement.