Editing Fethullah Gulen (section)

==Career:==
	•	Early Preaching: In 1958, Gülen earned a state preacher’s license and began preaching in Edirne, later moving to Izmir in 1966. His sermons blended religious themes with social, economic, and scientific issues, attracting a wide audience, including academics and students. He established “ışık evleri” (lighthouses), boarding houses to support student education, laying the foundation for the Hizmet movement.

	•	Hizmet Movement: By the 1980s, Gülen’s followers built a global network of schools, charities, media outlets, and businesses in over 140 countries, with assets estimated at $20–50 billion by 2015. The movement emphasized education, interfaith dialogue, and a moderate Islam compatible with democracy and science. Gülen met with global religious leaders, including Pope John Paul II and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, to promote tolerance.

	•	Political Alliances and Fallout: Initially aligned with Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) from 2002, Gülen’s followers supported the AKP against Turkey’s secular elite, securing key government positions. The alliance fractured in 2011, culminating in 2013 when Hizmet-linked investigations exposed AKP corruption, prompting Erdoğan to curb the movement’s influence.

	•	Exile in the U.S.: In 1999, Gülen moved to Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, citing health reasons (heart condition and diabetes), though critics link his departure to a Turkish investigation for undermining the secular state. He was convicted in absentia in 2000. From his Pennsylvania compound, he continued leading Hizmet, issuing statements on peace and education.