Media Says Alleged Mastermind of 2016 Turkish Armed Coup Has Died
The network of supporters of US-based scholar Fethullah Gulen is regarded as a terrorist organization by Ankara. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Fethullah Gulen, the exiled Turkish cleric labeled a terrorist by Ankara, has reportedly passed away in a US hospital.
The Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar died on Sunday evening after battling a prolonged illness, according to the Herkul news website, which is linked to his movement. Gulen was 83 years old.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has confirmed that Ankara's intelligence sources verify Gulen's death.
In July 2016, a faction of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, deploying combat aircraft and heavy weaponry to seize key locations throughout the country. This violent episode resulted in approximately 300 deaths.
In the wake of the coup attempt, the Turkish government initiated an extensive crackdown on individuals suspected of being Gulen supporters, leading to thousands facing criminal charges. Ankara designated Gulen’s Hizmet movement as the ‘Fethullahist Terrorist Organization.’
Gulen moved to the US in 1999 for medical treatment and remained there afterward. Turkish officials have claimed that he developed a network of supporters who have infiltrated various government sectors, particularly the judiciary. The US has denied numerous requests from Turkey to extradite Gulen.
During Erdogan's rise to power in the 1980s, he initially regarded Gulen as a political ally. However, their relationship soured in 2013 when Gulen openly criticized Ankara’s handling of the Gezi Park protests. These protests, which lasted over two months, were sparked by opposition to various government policies perceived to be shifting the country away from secularism and toward Islamism.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
The Pennsylvania-based Islamic scholar died on Sunday evening after battling a prolonged illness, according to the Herkul news website, which is linked to his movement. Gulen was 83 years old.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has confirmed that Ankara's intelligence sources verify Gulen's death.
In July 2016, a faction of the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the government and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, deploying combat aircraft and heavy weaponry to seize key locations throughout the country. This violent episode resulted in approximately 300 deaths.
In the wake of the coup attempt, the Turkish government initiated an extensive crackdown on individuals suspected of being Gulen supporters, leading to thousands facing criminal charges. Ankara designated Gulen’s Hizmet movement as the ‘Fethullahist Terrorist Organization.’
Gulen moved to the US in 1999 for medical treatment and remained there afterward. Turkish officials have claimed that he developed a network of supporters who have infiltrated various government sectors, particularly the judiciary. The US has denied numerous requests from Turkey to extradite Gulen.
During Erdogan's rise to power in the 1980s, he initially regarded Gulen as a political ally. However, their relationship soured in 2013 when Gulen openly criticized Ankara’s handling of the Gezi Park protests. These protests, which lasted over two months, were sparked by opposition to various government policies perceived to be shifting the country away from secularism and toward Islamism.
Mark B Thomas contributed to this report for TROIB News
