What is Fethullah Gülen movement?

The Fethullah Gülen movement (Gülen hareketi, in Turkish) is a transnational Islamic social movement that professes advocation of universal access to education, civil society, and peace, inspired by the religious teachings of Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish preacher who has lived in the United States since 1999.

Is the Gülen movement a terrorist organization in Turkey?

On May 26, 2016, the Gülen movement was officially classified as a terrorist organization by the Turkish government under the name Fethullahist Terror Organization (Fethullahçı Terör Örgütü, or FETÖ) or Parallel State Organization (Paralel Devlet Yapılanması, or PDY).

Is there a Gülen movement in China?

Another one called TUCSIAD is based in China, in addition to DTIK’s Asia-Pacific Group which supports the Gülen movement outside of Turkey in China, hoping to influence Turkish politics from the outside. Fethullah Gülen ‘s and the Gülen movement’s views and practices have been discussed in international conferences.

What is the Gülen movement and Hizmet school?

Most Gülen Movement schools are private. By 2017 it was estimated 1.2 million Turks have passed through Hizmet schools (including Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s son in-law, Berat Albayrak ); and its educational footprint extends to over 160 countries.

What happened to the Gülen movement?

In following days and weeks, a massive crackdown affected all entities affiliated to the Gülen movements, from individuals to businesses, newspapers to schools and universities.

Is the Gülen movement a moderate blend of Islam?

The movement has been characterized as a “moderate blend of Islam”. Gülen and the Gülen movement are technology-friendly, work within current market and commerce structures, and are savvy users of modern communications and public relations.

Is Gülen a cult leader or a man with ambitions?

Zeki Saritoprak says that the view of Gülen as “a cult leader or a man with ambitions” is mistaken, and contends that Gülen should be viewed in the context of a long line of Sufi masters who have long been a center of attention “for their admirers and followers, both historically and currently”.