Fethullah Gülen is a preacher, intellectual and educator, who assumed the leadership of the Nurcu religious movement started by Said Nursi (1878-1960 CE). He enjoyed huge support among all of Türkiye’s religious population until he was accused of orchestrating the attempted coup of 15 July 2016, and his organizations and supporters subsequently bore the brunt of Erdoğan’s crackdown. Many of his followers and supporters in state institutions, such as the police, judiciary and education, have been targeted and removed from their posts (over 500,000 people have been detained since the coup). Türkiye has formally asked the United States to extradite Gülen.