Fethullah Gülen, U.S.-based cleric accused of masterminding 2016 coup attempt in native Turkey, has died

Saylorsburg, Pa. — Fethullah Gülen, a reclusive U.S.-based Islamic cleric who inspired a global social movement while facing accusations he masterminded a failed 2016 coup in his native Turkey, has died.

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told a news conference Monday his nation's intelligence services had confirmed the death, according to the Reuters news agency.

The Associated Press reported that Abdullah Bozkurt, the former editor of the Gulen-linked Today's Zaman newspaper, who is now in exile in Sweden, said he spoke to Gulen's nephew, Kemal Gulen, who also confirmed the death.