Fethullah Gulen: Turkish cleric accused of planning 2016 attempted coup dies

The US-based cleric was the leader of an influential Islamic movement in Turkey and worldwide.

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The cleric, who had been living in self-imposed exile in the US, died after being admitted to a Pennsylvania hospital, according to reports in Turkish media.

Sometimes described as Turkey's second most powerful man, Gulen was the spiritual leader of the Gulen movement, a powerful Islamic community with followers in Turkey and worldwide.

Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan blamed the Gulen movement for the 2016 attempted coup, accusations Gulen denied.

Speaking at a press conference in Ankara, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said intelligence sources had confirmed Gulen's death, describing him as the leader of a "dark organisation".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy80638zgndo

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