The death of Fethullah Gulen, a powerful preacher and former ally of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has brought renewed attention to the once-close relationship between the two men that eventually turned into a bitter rivalry.
Gulen and Erdogan were initially allies, with Gulen supporting Erdogan’s AK Party in its rise to power in the early 2000s. However, their relationship soured over time, leading to a falling out that brought about a wave of violence and repression in Turkey.
The rift between the two men began to deepen in 2013, when Gulen’s followers within the Turkish judiciary and police launched a corruption investigation into Erdogan’s inner circle. Erdogan accused Gulen of running a “parallel state” within Turkey and orchestrating the investigation as part of a plot to overthrow the government.
In response, Erdogan launched a crackdown on Gulen’s supporters, arresting thousands of people and purging state institutions of alleged Gulenists. The government also blamed Gulen for the failed coup attempt in 2016, which resulted in hundreds of deaths and widespread arrests.
Gulen, who had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, denied any involvement in the coup attempt and condemned the violence.
With Gulen’s death, questions remain about the future of his movement and its followers in Turkey. Erdogan’s government shows no signs of easing its crackdown on perceived Gulenists, raising concerns about further political repression in the country.
The complex and contentious relationship between Erdogan and Gulen continues to cast a shadow over Turkish politics, even after Gulen’s passing.
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