Fethullah Gülen, Turkish Cleric, Dies at 83

Fethullah Gülen, the US-based Turkish cleric who faced accusations of orchestrating the 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has died at the age of 83 in Pennsylvania. Gülen, once an ally of Erdogan, became a prominent critic and was blamed for the coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of approximately 250 people. He lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and led a powerful Islamic movement known as Hizmet, which promoted education and interfaith dialogue. Despite denials of his involvement in the coup, the Turkish government labeled his movement a terrorist organization, leading to widespread purges of his followers. Gülen's philosophy blended Sufism with a commitment to democracy and social service, garnering millions of followers globally. His death has been confirmed by Turkish media and intelligence sources.