In a development that feels straight out of a political thriller, Turkey has confirmed the death of Fethullah Gulen, the controversial US-based cleric accused of masterminding the failed coup attempt in 2016. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, during a press conference on Monday, referred to Gulen as the leader of a “dark organisation” and reaffirmed Turkey’s unrelenting stance against terrorism.
The Turkish government’s long-standing feud with Gulen, once a powerful figure within Turkish society, ended not with a whimper, but with a stark reminder from Fidan that Gulen’s passing will not deter their fight against terrorism. “Our nation’s determination in the fight against terrorism will continue, and this news of his death will never lead us to complacency,” Fidan declared, sending a clear message that Turkey remains vigilant.
Gulen, a cleric turned fugitive, has always denied any involvement in the failed coup that shook Turkey to its core, but his movement was swiftly designated as a terrorist organisation by Ankara in the aftermath. His followers, once deeply entrenched in various levels of Turkish society, have since been purged, and Gulen himself has lived in exile in the United States for years.
For many, Gulen’s death marks the close of a dark chapter, but the scars of his influence and the damage from the 2016 coup attempt still linger. In Turkey’s eyes, his movement was not just a political nuisance but a malicious force, one that haunted the nation for far too long.
