Official statements from the Turkish government or US Department of State

Fethullah Gulen, Erdogan's Arch-Rival Accused of 2016 Coup, Dies at 83

Oct 21, 2024, 09:11 AM

Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Turkish Muslim cleric accused by Ankara of orchestrating a failed coup attempt in 2016, has died at the age of 83 in Pennsylvania, according to Turkish media reports. His death was confirmed by Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, citing intelligence sources. Gulen, who had lived in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania since 1999, was a one-time ally of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan before becoming his arch-rival. Turkish authorities have designated his movement, known as 'Hizmet', as a terrorist organization called FETÖ ('Fethullahist Terrorist Organization'). His organization was accused of leading a 'parallel state' and orchestrating the coup attempt that resulted in the deaths of at least 250 people. His death is expected to remove a major point of friction between Turkey and the United States.