Controversial Turkish Scholar and Politician Fethullah Gülen Passed Away

turkey, netherlands - Fethullah Gülen, the controversial Turkish scholar and politician, has passed away. His movement, known as the Hizmet movement, has sparked tensions within the Turkish community in the Netherlands and globally.

Fethullah Gülen, who was known as a preacher advocating a moderate and socially inclusive message in contrast to extremist Islamists, has died. His movement, the Hizmet movement, has been active worldwide, accumulating wealth through numerous donors. After a failed coup attempt in 2016, Turkish President Erdogan intensified his crackdown on Gülen and his followers, accusing them of orchestrating the bloody coup. Erdogan branded the Gülen movement as a terrorist organization.

In the aftermath of the failed coup, tensions arose within the Turkish community in the Netherlands between Gülen's supporters and those loyal to President Erdogan. These tensions manifested in demonstrations, fights, and reports of dozens of threats. Concerns were also raised about potential tensions in schools in Rotterdam. The government expressed its vigilance regarding the situation.

Originating in the 1950s, the Sunni Hizmet movement was previously aligned with Erdogan's Islamic conservative politics. Also referred to as the Service community, critics describe it as operating mysteriously with characteristics of a sect. The movement has branches in numerous countries, engaging in various sectors such as charity foundations, educational institutions, clinics, media, and financial companies. In the years leading up to the failed coup in Turkey, the movement was estimated to have at least $20 billion in assets.

In the Netherlands, the Hizmet movement, endorsing Gülen's ideology, continues to exist in 2024. Described as a group of socially engaged individuals dedicated to serving others and centered around the progressive Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen's ideas.