The leader of the controversial Gülen Movement, self-exiled, fugitive, retired imam Fethullah Gülen, faces criminal charges in many cases, including those seeking life sentences, for his alleged attempt to overthrow the democratically elected government.

Gülen is a defendant in three cases and a suspect in five investigations conducted into the Gülen Movement, which is officially deemed a national security threat in the Red Book that lists the country's security threats.

Gülen is the main defendant in the three cases opened in Istanbul's 13th and 14th High Criminal Courts and is mentioned as a suspect in investigations in Ankara, İzmir, Manisa, Uşak and Kocaeli.

In his absence, he has had four arrest warrants issued for him and Ankara has demanded Interpol issue a Red Notice for him four times as well.

Gülen is also charged with attempting to overthrow the government by force or attempting to prevent the government from fulfilling its duties, founding and managing an armed gang and illegally obtaining information related to state security for political and military espionage. He faces three life sentences if found guilty of these accusations.

He is on trial today for the Dec. 25 probe led by the "parallel structure," a name attributed to infiltrators from the Gülen Movement in key posts in the judiciary and police.

The indictment included President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, his son Bilal, National Intelligence Organization (MİT) Chief Hakan Fidan, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and several others as plaintiffs.