Fethullah Gülen, Turkish preacher and theologian

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen, born on April 27, 1941, is a prominent Turkish Islamic scholar, eloquent preacher, and a figure who once wielded significant influence as a leading opinion maker, widely recognized as the de facto head of the Gülen movement. He has been characterized as an influential proponent of neo-Ottomanist ideas and an Anatolian panethnicist, alongside being an Islamic poet, a prolific writer, a social critic, and an activist-dissident. Gülen is noted for developing a distinct Nursian theological perspective that harmoniously integrates with the principles of democratic modernity. During his time as a citizen of Turkey, a status he held until his denaturalization by the Turkish government in 2017, he served as a local state imam from 1959 to 1981, a role that positioned him at the heart of community life. Over decades, Gülen gradually emerged as a centrist political figure within Turkey before circumstances led him to become a fugitive from his homeland. Since 1999, he has resided in self-imposed exile in the United States, specifically near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania.

Gülen himself states that his social critiques primarily target individuals' faith and moral compass, with a lesser emphasis on direct political objectives. He explicitly rejects an Islamist political philosophy, advocating instead for the full and active participation of both religious and secular individuals in all aspects of professional, societal, and political life. This participation, he stresses, should be guided by high moral and ethical principles and an unwavering support for secular governance, applicable equally to Muslim-majority nations and beyond.

The Gülen Movement: Hizmet and Its Principles

Fethullah Gülen founded the Gülen movement, commonly known by its Turkish name, Hizmet, which translates to "service." This movement grew into a substantial, volunteer-based network, estimated to comprise between three and six million participants across Turkey and globally. Following the attempted coup d'état in Turkey in 2016, all of Hizmet's schools, foundations, and other associated entities within the country were closed down by the Turkish government. Participants in the movement, often referred to as Gülenists, focus on individual piety and ethical conduct. They actively promote initiatives in education, foster civil society engagement, and champion religious tolerance. These efforts are supported through the establishment of broad social networks. The movement's networks are described as having originated spontaneously, with their individual local entities operating autonomously, thereby collectively functioning as leaderless activist structures. Gülen himself has downplayed his direct involvement, famously stating, "I really don't know 0.1% of the people in this movement." He added, "I haven't done much. I have just spoken out on what I believe. Because it [Gülen's teachings] made sense, people grasped it themselves." Reflecting on the movement's organic growth, he once remarked, "I opened one school to see if people liked it. So they created more schools."

A point of contention and observation, however, is that the movement includes individuals with advanced theological training who serve as imams and spiritual counselors at a macro level. The identities of these individuals often remain confidential, a practice some observers attribute to the technical illegality of such positions in Turkey under formerly Kemalist laws that outlawed religious orders. This aspect leads some to argue that the movement possesses a clandestine dimension.

Political Alliance, Rift, and Allegations

In 2003, a significant number of Gülen movement participants shifted their political alignment from the Turkish center to form a junior partnership with the newly governing, Erdoğan-led, center-right Justice and Development Party (AKP). This alliance was forged out of a shared ambition with then-President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan: to empower religious individuals in civil life, who had historically been disenfranchised in Turkey's staunchly secular system. The Gülen movement provided crucial political and much-needed administrative support to the AKP. Together, this political alliance worked to diminish the influence of left-of-center Kemalist factions within key state institutions, including the judiciary, military, and police, notably through events like the Ergenekon trials. However, this alliance began to fracture internally around 2011, with the rift becoming public knowledge by the time of significant corruption investigations targeting highly placed members of Turkey's ruling party in 2013.

Turkish prosecutors subsequently accused Gülen of attempting to overthrow the government. These accusations specifically allege that Gülen directed politically motivated corruption investigations, spearheaded by Gülen-linked investigators then operating within the judiciary. These investigations purportedly included the illegal wiretapping of the Turkish president's executive office. Furthermore, Gülen is alleged to have instigated or fomented the 2016 coup attempt by factions within the Turkish armed forces, reportedly including Gülenists, possibly with assistance from unnamed individuals in the American intelligence community. Gülen has vehemently denied these allegations, asserting that he did not personally influence past prosecutions of Justice and Development Party members by judiciary prosecutors from various political factions, and has unequivocally stated that he has "stood against all coups." A Turkish criminal court has since issued an arrest warrant for Gülen, and Turkey continues to demand his extradition from the United States. However, U.S. government officials have consistently maintained that they do not believe Gülen is associated with any terrorist activity, frequently rejecting Turkish calls for his extradition while requesting substantiating evidence for the allegations in the warrant.

Current Engagement and Global Perception

In a February 2019 opinion piece, Gülen voiced strong criticism of the situation in Turkey, stating, "In Turkey, a vast arrest campaign based on guilt by association is ongoing. The number of victims of this campaign of persecution keeps increasing... . Erdogan is draining the reputation that the Turkish Republic has gained in the international arena, pushing Turkey into the league of nations known for suffocating freedoms and jailing democratic dissenters. The ruling clique is exploiting diplomatic relations, mobilizing government personnel and resources to harass, haunt and abduct Hizmet movement volunteers all around the world."

Fethullah Gülen remains actively involved in the ongoing societal debate concerning the future trajectory of the Turkish state and the role of Islam in the contemporary world. He has been described in English-language media as an imam "who promotes a tolerant Islam which emphasises altruism, hard work and education" and as "one of the world's most important Muslim figures." Despite this international recognition, Gülen is officially wanted as a terrorist leader by Turkey, Pakistan, and the governments of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who is Fethullah Gülen?

Muhammed Fethullah Gülen is a Turkish Islamic scholar, preacher, and writer, born in 1941. He is widely recognized as the de facto leader of the Gülen movement, also known as Hizmet. He is known for promoting a theological perspective that integrates Islamic teachings with democratic modernity.

What is the Gülen movement, also known as Hizmet?

Hizmet, meaning "service" in Turkish, is a global, volunteer-based social movement founded by Fethullah Gülen. It emphasizes education, civil society engagement, and religious tolerance. Before 2016, it operated numerous schools and foundations, particularly in Turkey and worldwide.

Why is Fethullah Gülen living in the United States?

Gülen has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States, near Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, since 1999. His decision to leave Turkey was influenced by political developments and a desire to avoid potential political pressures and legal issues.

What are Gülen's views on politics and Islam?

Gülen explicitly rejects an Islamist political philosophy, advocating instead for secular rule and the full participation of both religious and secular individuals in public life, guided by high moral and ethical principles. He believes in the compatibility of Islamic values with democratic governance and modern society.

What happened between Gülen and the Turkish government?

Initially, the Gülen movement formed a political alliance with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) in 2003, working together to reform Turkish institutions. However, this alliance fractured around 2011, and the relationship deteriorated significantly. The Turkish government, led by President Erdoğan, now accuses Gülen of orchestrating corruption investigations in 2013 and instigating the 2016 coup attempt, allegations Gülen strongly denies.

Is Fethullah Gülen considered a terrorist?

The perception of Fethullah Gülen varies significantly. Turkey, Pakistan, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) officially designate him as a terrorist leader. However, the U.S. government has stated that it does not believe he is associated with any terrorist activity and has repeatedly rejected Turkey's requests for his extradition, citing a lack of compelling evidence.

What happened to Hizmet's institutions in Turkey after 2016?

Following the attempted coup d'état in Turkey in 2016, the Turkish government closed down all schools, foundations, and other entities associated with the Hizmet movement within the country. This action was part of a broader crackdown targeting individuals and organizations believed to have links to Gülen.