Turkish cleric Fethullah Gulen has died at the age of 83 in the US state of Pennsylvania.
Accounts linked to the Gülenist movement, including Gülen's nephews, posted reports that he had died of cardiovascular problems.
For over two decades, Gülen lived in a mansion in Pennsylvania that he used as his movement's headquarters.
Authorities in Ankara accused Gulen of being the mastermind of the failed July 15, 2016 coup that killed 252 people and injured more than 2,700 in Turkey.
Gulen's health has deteriorated significantly in recent years. In addition to kidney failure and diabetes, he has suffered from dementia, Turkish media report.
The Turkish government has filed seven formal extradition requests to the US, accusing Gulen of crimes ranging from orchestrating the coup attempt to espionage, fraud and money laundering. His organization is alleged to have engaged in a variety of illegal activities, including wiretapping and political espionage.
Gülen was born on 27 April 1941 in Pasinler, Erzurum. After working as a preacher and imam, he built an extensive network of educational and religious institutions. Over the years, his teachings became a movement that spanned various sectors, including media and finance. | BGNES
