What is the Gülen Movement and why is it being targeted in Turkey?
In the wake of a failed coup attempt in July 2016, the Turkish government launched an unprecedented crackdown on what it called a “terrorist organization” led by exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen. Labeling the group as the Fethullahist Terrorist Organization (FETÖ), Turkish authorities began a mass purge of public institutions, detaining tens of thousands of teachers, judges, journalists, civil servants, and military officers accused of ties to the movement.
But what is the Gülen Movement, really? Why has it become the central target of President Erdoğan’s repressive policies? And what role does Advocates of Silenced Turkey play in defending the people affected by this purge?
This blog post offers a detailed, SEO-optimized look at these questions—highlighting not just the facts, but also the human rights implications that continue to reverberate across Turkey and beyond.
What is the Gülen movement?
The Gülen Movement also known as Hizmet, which means “service” in Turkish—is a transnational social and religious movement inspired by the teachings of Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish Islamic scholar who used to live in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, USA from 1999 until he passed in October 2024.
Founded in the late 20th century, the movement promotes:
- Education
- Interfaith dialogue
- Community service
- Moderate Islam
- Non-violence and coexistence
Its followers established hundreds of schools, charities, and business networks in Turkey and around the world. By the early 2000s, the Gülen Movement had become a powerful civil society force, praised by many for its educational efforts and global outreach.
Why did the Turkish government turn against it?
For years, the Gülen Movement supported Turkey’s ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), led by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, because AKP were taking necessary steps to bring Turkey more democracy and human rights. Also were taking necessary steps to become a member of the European Council. Both sides shared a conservative base and sought to limit the influence of Turkey’s secular elite.
But the alliance began to fracture in 2013, when prosecutors believed to be affiliated with the movement launched a corruption investigation into Erdoğan’s inner circle. The president accused the Gülenists of creating a “parallel state” within Turkey’s institutions.
Tensions escalated dramatically after the July 15, 2016 coup attempt, which resulted in over 250 deaths. Erdoğan blamed Gülen and his followers for orchestrating the failed coup—a charge Gülen and his supporters strongly deny. Since then, the government has labeled the movement a terrorist group and unleashed a wave of arrests and dismissals.
The scale of the crackdown
In the name of fighting FETÖ, the Turkish government has initiated one of the largest purges in modern history:
- 300,000+ civil servants dismissed by emergency decrees
- Over 500,000+ individuals arrested
- A total of 4,156 judges and prosecutors were removed from their positions by emergency decree for alleged links to the Gülen movement
- Thousands of schools, media outlets, and NGOs shut down
Many victims had no formal link to the coup or any illegal activity. Being associated with a Gülen-affiliated school or bank, having a certain messaging app on one’s phone, or even holding a particular book became grounds for arrest.
Families have been torn apart. Children have been denied access to education. Thousands have fled the country—often risking their lives—to seek asylum abroad.
Who are the victims?
The persecution of Gülen followers has impacted every level of Turkish society:
- Teachers and educators fired en masse
- Journalists imprisoned for reporting on human rights
- Business owners stripped of assets and labeled terrorists
- Mothers arrested with their newborns
- Students denied diplomas or passports
These individuals are not terrorists—they are citizens whose only “crime” was being affiliated, often indirectly, with a social movement now vilified by the state.
This is where Advocates of Silenced Turkey steps in.
How Advocates of Silenced Turkey is helping
Advocates of Silenced Turkey (AST) is a U.S.-based nonprofit organization committed to defending human rights, promoting democratic values, and raising awareness of political oppression in Turkey.
AST plays a crucial role in:
- Documenting human rights abuses targeting the Gülen Movement and other oppressed groups
- Providing legal and psychological support to exiled families
- Organizing events and panels to educate the public and policymakers
- Publishing detailed reports for advocacy at international institutions
By amplifying the stories of the silenced, AST ensures that the world hears the truth behind Turkey’s post-coup crackdown.
International silence and the danger of normalization
Despite the scale of repression, international response has often been muted. Turkey remains a NATO member and an important geopolitical player. As a result, many governments have avoided open confrontation over Erdoğan’s human rights abuses.
This silence empowers the regime to continue its persecution, both within Turkey and abroad. In recent years, Turkey has been accused of orchestrating renditions, surveilling exiles, and pressuring foreign governments to extradite Gülen followers.
Organizations like Advocates of Silenced Turkey are working to break that silence by lobbying international bodies, publishing survivor testimonies, and urging democratic governments to take a stand.
What can you do?
If you’re reading this and feel outraged by what’s happening, here’s how you can take action:
- Donate to AST – Your support funds legal aid, refugee assistance, and awareness campaigns.
- Share the truth – Use social media to amplify reports and survivor stories using hashtags like #SilencedTurkey.
- Contact your representatives – Urge lawmakers to condemn Turkey’s human rights abuses and support asylum protections.
- Host or attend events – AST frequently hosts panels, webinars, exhibitions, and community discussions.
- Educate others – Help spread the truth in your schools, workplaces, and religious communities.
Repression cannot erase truth
The Gülen Movement, once a symbol of education and social reform, has been recast as the scapegoat for Turkey’s authoritarian turn. But truth cannot be buried forever. The world must recognize the suffering of hundreds thousands of innocent people, teachers, judges, students, mothers, branded as enemies in their own country.
Advocates of Silenced Turkey are giving a voice to the voiceless. With international solidarity, public pressure, and continued advocacy, we can help end the injustice and bring accountability to those responsible.
The silence may be loud in Turkey but it doesn’t have to be global.
