Mourners gather for Fethullah Gülen, a Turkish spiritual leader who died in the US

(24 Oct 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Augusta, New Jersey - 24 October 2024 1. SOUNDBITE (English) Mustafa Yilmaz, teacher: “I left Turkey in 2000. I went to another country to teach in a Gulen movement schools as a chemistry teacher for ten years. After that, I went to another country. I spent, therefore, seven years in another Gulen movement school. I worked there again as a teacher. So after after the, you know, 2016 so-called coup, I had to leave Turkey. I came to Canada. I seek asylum. I became a Canada citizen. And I came here to join this ceremony.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Mustafa Yilmaz, teacher: “Since my childhood time, I am reading his books. I am following his sermons. He did nothing but to to raise a good generation, a golden generation. So in order to pay my loyalty, I just came here to do my last, last duty. Yeah, it was... it was an important task for me to be here.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Mustafa Yilmaz, teacher: “When I came to Canada, you know, as any refugee, I started working in construction, in Uber Driver. But later on I applied to the schools this day so that I really teach well because I had an experience in Gulen movement schools, and then I started teaching in private schools in Canada as well.” ASSOCIATED PRESS Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania - 24 October 2024 4. Pan of casket being moved by pallbearers 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Hafsa Turkyolu, relative of Fethullah Gülen: “Well, I'm blessed because he (Gulen) is actually my mom's uncle. And my father was someone who was who has been next to him serving him for 50 years. So that through my family, I got to know him. But after, you know, being cognizant and being aware, I chose myself to be his student, following in his teachings.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Hafsa Turkyolu, relative of Fethullah Gülen: “I think because his teachings aren't just his, they don't come from him, you know, his teachings. He's a reminder of the teachings of our book, the Koran, the teachings of Allah. So they are eternal. And that's why it's going to live eternally, because it is the teachings of our prophet. There is nothing new. He just adapts it to this time and age and how we can take those teachings in footsteps and accommodate it to this time period.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mina Turkyolu, relative of Fethullah Gülen: “So even though we are family, anyone you would ask, he's never really been considered us family. He's always been more of a holy and noble person that you've always looked up to. So he's always been an inspiration for all of us, for millions of people.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Mina Turkyolu, relative of Fethullah Gülen: “He really didn't have a worldly life here on this earth. So he's able to live the life now that he's deserved up in the heavens. So it's all– it's a big hole in our heart. But we're also very relieved knowing that he finally has the peace that he deserves after so long.” ++BLACK FRAMES++ 9. SOUNDBITE (English) Mina Turkyolu, relative of Fethullah Gülen: ++EDIT ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++ STORYLINE: Family, friends and followers of Gülen gathered Thursday to pay respects to the influential Turkish spiritual leader and Islamic scholar who died this week in self-exile in the United States. Gülen, who inspired a global social movement while facing unproven allegations that he orchestrated a failed 2016 military coup against Turkey's president, died Sunday at a Pennsylvania hospital. He was in his 80s. AP video by Tassanee Vejpongsa Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...