Turkish cleric accused of being behind 2016 coup dies

Gulen rose to prominence by arguing that young people in Turkey had lost their way and education was the best response.

He became known for promoting a tolerant Islam which emphasised altruism, modesty and hard work.

His movement – known in Turkey as Hizmet or “service” – first gained a foothold running schools, and it went on to open educational institutions across Turkey and around the world.

As the movement grew, followers expanded into business and began taking jobs inside the government and military.

Hizmet was once an ally of Erdogan’s, but the Turkish president turned on the movement in 2013, vowing to shut down hundreds of its schools and rid the government of Gulenists, who he called a “state within a state”.

Gulen-allied police officers were accused of carrying out raids against Erdogan’s allies, and the Turkish government formally declared Hizmet a terrorist organisation in May 2016.