Editing Fethullah Gulen (section)

===Overview of Allegations===
Gülen’s critics, particularly the Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have repeatedly alleged that he and his Hizmet movement were supported or influenced by the CIA, especially in the context of the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey, which Erdoğan labeled the work of the “Fethullahist Terror Organization” (FETÖ). These claims often stem from Gülen’s residence in Pennsylvania since 1999, his movement’s global reach, and its perceived alignment with U.S. interests during the Cold War and post-9/11 era. 

After the 2013 fallout between Gülen and Erdoğan, and especially following the July 15, 2016, coup attempt, the Turkish government accused Gülen of being a CIA asset or collaborator. Erdoğan and his allies claimed the CIA backed Gülen to destabilize Turkey, pointing to his U.S. residency and the Hizmet movement’s extensive network of schools and organizations in over 140 countries, including in regions strategic to U.S. interests (e.g., Central Asia, Africa).

Turkish officials, including Erdoğan, alleged that the CIA facilitated Gülen’s 1999 move to the U.S. and protected him from extradition after 2016. Pro-government media in Turkey, such as Yeni Şafak, published articles claiming Gülen’s Pennsylvania compound was a CIA front and that Hizmet schools in Central Asia were used to gather intelligence or promote U.S. geopolitical goals against Russia and China.