Their name means service and followers insist the Hizmet movement is an informal grouping of individuals promoting moderate Islam and the development of poorer countries as well as Turkey.

For their opponents, it is a shadowy organisation with links in the media and business whose spiritual leader Fethullah Gulen has much unelected and unaccountable influence in the country.

Now the movement and Gulen are accused of launching Friday's military coup together, acting under the name the "Fethullahci Terror Organisation (FETO)", accusations they deny strongly.

- Altruistic Muslims? -

The movement's leader is a Sunni Muslim, part of the Hanafi tradition of Islamic jurisprudence and is believed to have been influenced by the ideas of one of the most significant Muslim theologians of the modern world, Said Nursi.

Gulen promotes a tolerant and moderate Sufi Islam, of which Hizmet's supporters are also affiliates, but he himself is a reclusive figure.

He has been active since the 60s and 70s but now lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania in the United States.

Hizmet promotes peace and harmony through hard work and altruism, supporters say.

Their charity efforts and work on education spreads as far as the United States where they have over 100 charter schools, the largest network within the country.

Hizmet-affiliated schools can also be found in Africa including Kenya and as far as Pakistan and Kazakhstan, usually funded by wealthy Turkish businessmen.

The movement encourages followers to work in the civil service and be useful members of society through charity or employment.

It is not known exactly how many individuals are part of the movement but some believe it could be millions across the world.

There are many think-tanks, businesses, media organisations linked to the movement worldwide including the Journalist and Writers Foundation based in Istanbul and the Rumi Forum in Washington.

- Purge of followers -

Followers of the movement have had senior positions within Turkey's civil service, media and business, though that has declined since the authorities' purge of those accused of Hizmet links.

Media organisations in Turkey linked to Hizmet have come under great scrutiny and attack.

In March, the headquarters of Zaman daily newspaper was seized by authorities and state administrators put in charge of the parent company, Feza.

That incident came five months after Koza-Ipek media group, parent company of Bugun TV broadcaster -- was ordered to be seized by a court ruling.

After Friday's coup thousands more individuals accused of Hizmet links have been detained and Erdogan suggested more were to come, saying the "virus" that spread within state bodies must be cleaned.

US-based cleric denies involvement in Turkey coup bid
Washington (AFP) July 16, 2016 - Fethullah Gulen, a Muslim cleric living in self-imposed exile in the United States, said Saturday he had no involvement in an attempted coup in Turkey, and suggested it could have been staged by the president himself.

Gulen, a reclusive preacher with a worldwide following who is regularly accused of a behind the scenes role in Turkish politics, lives in Saylorsburg, a tiny town in the Pocono Mountains of the US state of Pennsylvania.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has accused Gulen of being behind Friday's bloody coup attempt that has killed at least 265 people, and urged the United States to extradite to Turkey the "man who lives in Pennsylvania."

"I don't know who my followers are," Gulen told The New York Times from his compound, when asked if any of his backers were involved in the coup attempt.

"Since I do not know these individuals, I cannot speak of their potential involvement. It could be something from the opposition or nationalists. I have been away from Turkey for 30 years and have not been following this."

Shortly after the coup attempt began, Gulen had in a statement condemned the military uprising "in the strongest terms."

During his rare interview, Gulen said it was "possible" the coup was staged by Erdogan.

"But as a believer like myself, I cannot make accusations without evidence. It could be a lie, it could be a false accusation and I seek refuge from God in false accusations," Gulen said.

"Some leaders stage... false suicide attacks to strengthen their hand, such people may come up with such scenarios. As a believer, I cannot make false accusations."

Secretary of State John Kerry said the United States would assist Turkey in the investigation of the failed coup and invited Ankara to share any evidence it had against Gulen.

Gulen, 75, was once a close ally of Erdogan but the two fell out in recent years as Erdogan became suspicious of Gulen's movement, Hizmet, and its powerful presence in Turkish society, including the media, police and judiciary.

The preacher moved to the United States in 1999, before he was charged with treason in his native country.

He has since led a secluded life in Pennsylvania, declining interviews and rarely making public appearances.