'Erdo?an Opponent' Fethullah G?len Dies in the United States
Published 21 Oct.2024 19:08(KST)
Fethullah Gulen, an anti-government figure and Islamic theologian from Turkey, has died in the United States.
According to major foreign media on the 21st (local time), Gulen passed away on the 20th at a hospital in Pennsylvania, USA, due to a kidney disease he had suffered from for years.
Gulen was once a political ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan but turned into a political rival after their relationship soured. Citing health reasons, he moved to the United States in 1999. President Erdogan labeled Gulen as the mastermind and terrorist behind the 2016 military coup attempt and has demanded his extradition from the U.S., but the U.S. has rejected this, citing insufficient evidence. Gulen has also denied involvement in the coup attempt. In 2017, Gulen was stripped of his Turkish citizenship.
Gulen was a moderate Islamist and an influential religious leader with many followers, known for his educational activities called the "Gulen Movement" or the "Hizmet (Service) Movement." In 2013, he received the Manhae Prize, honoring Manhae Han Yong-un, establishing a connection with South Korea.
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