Following the death of Abdulbaki Elhüseyni (also known as Abdulbaki Erol), the former leader of the Menzil religious community, a fierce inheritance dispute has erupted among his three sons, causing deep divisions that now threaten to split the community into separate factions. The dispute has reached the courts, with lawsuits filed over the ownership of properties associated with the community.
Dispute Over Property Ownership
The eldest son and current de facto leader of the community, Saki Elhüseyni, argues that the properties in question belong to the community and its followers, and therefore should not be considered part of the personal inheritance. However, his brothers Mübarek Elhüseyni and Fettah Elhüseyni claim that the buildings are registered under companies or individuals and thus qualify as inheritance assets.
Mübarek and Fettah Elhüseyni Invoke Secular Laws
A significant case illustrating the rift involves a dervish lodge in Çorum. In court, Saki Elhüseyni’s camp argued that the property belongs to all Muslims and denied any ownership claims. In contrast, Mübarek and Fettah Elhüseyni’s lawyers cited Turkey’s 1924 Constitution and the “Law No. 677 on the Closure of Dervish Lodges and Tombs” to assert that religious communities such as Menzil cannot hold legal ownership. As such, they argued, the court should not recognize the defense presented by the association claiming the property.
This Çorum case is one of the most high-profile examples of the legal battle dividing the brothers, with similar disputes also playing out in various courts across Türkiye and in European countries like the Netherlands.
Mübarek Elhüseyni Plans a New Village
The internal feud has also led to factionalism among Menzil followers. Saki Elhüseyni has mobilized support through the “Serhendi Foundation,” Mübarek Elhüseyni through the “Gucdevan Foundation,” and Fettah Elhüseyni through the “Semerkand Foundation.” Notably, the Gucdevan and Semerkand groups have formed an alliance against the Serhendi faction.
Sources within the community claim that Mübarek Elhüseyni, having been expelled by his older brother from the central village of Menzil in Kahta, Adıyaman, is now working on establishing a new religious village in the Marmara region.
Community Facing a Three-Way Split
Reportedly, Mübarek Elhüseyni is holding meetings in Semerkand- and Gucdevan-aligned dervish lodges in Europe, collecting donations from supporters to fund the new settlement. Interestingly, some supporters of the Serhendi group, unaware of the internal politics, have also made donations to Mübarek Elhüseyni.
If Mübarek’s efforts succeed, the Menzil community will effectively split into three branches: Menzil, Buhara, and a potential new faction under Mübarek. This would formalize an already growing fragmentation within the group.
A History of Division
The Menzil community had previously experienced a split in 2000. After the death of its second leader, Muhammed Raşit Erol, in 1993, Abdulbaki Elhüseyni briefly competed with his nephew Fevzettin Erol for leadership. However, Fevzettin stepped aside in 2000, claiming his uncle was the rightful leader. He then left Menzil and settled in the village of Buhara in Eskişehir’s Sivrihisar district. This move led to the original division of the community into the Menzil and Buhara branches.
Now, with tensions running high and leadership disputes unresolved, the Menzil community stands on the verge of yet another major split—this time into three rival factions.
