Fact Check: Fetö gülen was an CIA Agent

Fact Check: "Fetö Gülen was a CIA Agent"

What We Know

The claim that Fethullah Gülen, the Turkish cleric and leader of the Gülen movement, was a CIA agent is a widely circulated assertion, particularly among supporters of the Turkish government. However, there is no credible evidence to support this claim. Gülen, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999, has been accused by the Turkish government of orchestrating a failed coup in 2016, which he denies. The Turkish government refers to his followers as the "Fethullah Terrorist Organization" (FETÖ) and has made multiple extradition requests for him, citing terrorism charges (source-3).

In a recent ruling, the U.S. Court of Appeals upheld a conviction against Bijan Rafiekian, who was found guilty of acting as an undisclosed agent of the Turkish government. This case involved efforts to influence U.S. public opinion against Gülen, highlighting that there were organized attempts to delegitimize him in the eyes of American politicians (source-1).

Analysis

The sources available provide a clear picture that contradicts the claim of Gülen being a CIA agent. The U.S. Department of Justice's records indicate that there were efforts by individuals linked to the Turkish government to undermine Gülen's reputation in the U.S., rather than any evidence of Gülen being affiliated with the CIA (source-1).

Additionally, the Turkish government's narrative framing Gülen as a terrorist has been met with skepticism internationally, as many view these claims as politically motivated. The UK government's documentation on the Gülen movement acknowledges the crackdown on individuals associated with Gülen in Turkey but does not substantiate claims of his connections to the CIA (source-3).

While some Turkish media outlets and government officials have suggested connections between Gülen and the CIA, these claims lack substantiation and are often viewed as part of a broader narrative to discredit Gülen and his followers (source-7).

Conclusion

The claim that Fethullah Gülen was a CIA agent is False. There is no credible evidence to support this assertion, and it appears to be part of a politically motivated narrative by the Turkish government to delegitimize Gülen and his movement. The evidence instead points to organized efforts by Turkish officials to influence U.S. perceptions of Gülen, rather than any indication of his involvement with U.S. intelligence.

Sources

1. Fourth Circuit Upholds Jury Conviction in Foreign-Agent Prosecution
2. FETULLAH GÜLEN AND FETÖ
3. Country policy and information note: Gülenist movement
4. Fethullah Gülen
5. Turkey seeks arrest of ex-CIA officer Fuller over coup plot
6. False Claims | Free Fact-Check Blog | TruthOrFake
7. FETÖ'nün CIA ile ilişkisinin izleri - Son Dakika ... - Milliyet
8. Dark legacy of Fetullah Gülen's criminal network