Imam Fethullah Gulen categorically denies involvement in military coup in Turkey

Imam Fethullah Gulen issued a message from the United States, saying he "categorically denies allegations that he had a role in the attempted coup against Erdogan's government", agencies reported, as carried by Al Jazeera.

- As someone who has suffered through multiple military coups, it is particularly insulting to be accused of having any connection with such an attempt - Gulen said, as reported by Reuters.

Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said on Saturday that he had not received a request for the extradition of Gulen, who has lived in the United States for years.

The Turkish government announced that followers of Gulen, who is in voluntary exile, are behind the attempted military coup carried out on Friday.

Kerry said the United States is ready to assist Turkish authorities in the investigation and stands for democratically elected leadership in Turkey.

Fethullah Gulen is the leader of the Hizmet movement, which he runs from his residence in Saylorsburg, a town in Pennsylvania. Hizmet previously worked closely with the AK Party in implementing democratic reforms and fighting against the Turkish military, which interfered in the conduct of state policy.

However, a rift occurred in 2013, when Turkish police discovered that followers of Gulen's movement had wiretapped the office of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who was then prime minister. The Turkish authorities consider Hizmet a terrorist organization. On the other hand, Hizmet continues to develop a large number of universities and schools worldwide, as reported by Patria.