Documentary examines Gülen movement’s legacy and future after his death

A new documentary on Fethullah Gülen’s legacy premieres on YouTube on October 17.

The 90-minute film features 35 interviewees from 14 countries and looks at the Turkish cleric’s teachings on education, faith and dialogue.

Gülen encouraged followers to establish schools combining academic subjects with moral values, helping his movement, known as Hizmet, spread internationally.

Its schools, charities and dialogue groups became the movement’s most visible institutions, with associated institutions operating in more than 100 countries by his death.

Gülen’s alliance with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan later broke down, and after the failed 2016 coup that killed 251 people, Turkey accused Gülen and his movement of organizing the uprising; Gülen denied involvement and condemned the coup.

The ensuing crackdown brought tens of thousands of arrests and the closure of movement-associated institutions, while many participants went into exile.

The film examines how the movement’s communities can endure after Gülen’s death and amid continued prosecutions in Turkey.