Fethullah Gulen, who has died aged 83, was blamed by Turkey for being behind a 2016 coup attempt.
Gulen, who lived in exile in the US before his death, was accused of being behind Turkey’s 2016 coup attempt.
![Fethullah Gulen lived in exile in the US state of Pennsylvania [File: Charles Mostoller/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2017-07-11T235713Z_1188938188_RC1DBF5ADF50_RTRMADP_3_TURKEY-SECURITY-GULEN-USA-1729526579.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
A former ally of Turkish President Erdogan, Gulen was accused of masterminding a failed coup in 2016 and lived in exile.
![Islamic leader Fethullah Gulen speaks to members of the media at his home in Saylorsburg, US [File: Chris Post/AP]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/AP18351593652698-1729493048.jpg?resize=570%2C380&quality=80)
The events of July 15, 2016 left a huge effect on Turkey’s domestic and foreign policy – and can still be felt today.
Selahaddin was brought back to Turkey by agents from the National Intelligence Organisation, Turkish media said.
Detentions part of the latest operation against suspected backers of US-based preacher accused of a 2016 failed coup.
Metin Topuz was sentenced to eight years and nine months in prison for aiding a ‘terrorist’ organisation.
![Security sources say the Iranian intelligence gave the instructions for the abductions [File: Huseyin Aldemir/Reuters]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/d4d61394e2604d308e126c22665b3fac_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Detention orders mainly target members of security forces over alleged links to religious leader blamed for coup bid.
![Turkey says the arrests are necessary to combat threats to national security [Anadolu Agency]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/15aa140b8e21446ebda5010c636b1304_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Ankara accuses US-based religious leader Fethullah Gulen’s network of masterminding a coup attempt in July 2016.
![Turkish prosecutors ordered the detention of 140 people including serving army officers over alleged links to the US-based preacher Fethullah Gulen. [File: Anadolu Agency]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/9a4c9942805c4764bf8b68d4a5fafe14_18.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Operations under way to arrest soldiers and civilians over alleged links to a network blamed for the 2016 coup attempt.
March 31 polls seen as test for Turkish leader and AK Party amid economic downturn triggered by 2018 currency crisis.
The Turkish economy, which has slipped into its first recession in a decade, has topped the election agenda so far.
![Turkish local elections [Umut Uras/Al Jazeera]](https://www.aljazeera.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/dc326130e20243dc8c63d36f0cf95c9b_8.jpeg?resize=270%2C180&quality=80)
Topuz is accused of having links to US-based Turkish Muslim scholar Gulen, whom Ankara blames for 2016 coup attempt.
The order is part of multiple probes into supporters of US-based cleric, accused of being behind attempted 2016 coup.
