Turkish cleric Fetullah Gulen has died: reports

Turkish Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen, who Ankara says was behind a 2016 failed coup, has died in the United States where he was based, broadcaster NTV and other Turkish media said on Monday. He was 83.

The reports could not immediately be confirmed.

Gulen built a powerful Islamic movement in Turkey and beyond but spent his later years accused of orchestrating an attempted coup against Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, accusations which he denied. He had been living in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999 and remained a polarizing figure.

The issue of Gulen's extradition from the United States to Turkey has strained diplomatic relations between the two NATO allies.

The relationship between Gulen and Erdogan has become increasingly contentious over the years, particularly since the early 2010s. The former allies parted ways as Erdogan blamed him for running a "parallel state." Gulen and his followers were accused of infiltrating key state institutions, including the judiciary and police, leading to a significant rift.

The situation escalated dramatically following the 2016 coup attempt, which Erdogan blamed on Gulen, resulting in a massive crackdown on Gulenists and others perceived as dissenters.

Critics say the crackdown resulted in thousands of lawyers, teachers and government officials being wrongfully arrested and jailed.

* With input from Reuters