Confessions continue to emerge from the Menzil sect: Allegations of a voice recording... Did the sect feud reach President Erdoğan?

The sect structure that has been growing for years in the village of Menzil, located in the Kahta district of Adıyaman, is now at the center of not only religious but also political and economic crises. The inheritance feud, which began and grew after the death of the community's spiritual leader, Abdülbaki Elhüseyni, in July 2023, has reached the dimension of an internal war that is now openly reflected in the public eye. A new statement released by one of the brothers, Muhammed Mübarek Elhüseyni, has brought what is happening within the community to light.

Menzil Village Is Now a Sect Complex

According to Mübarek Elhüseyni's statement, Menzil village was purchased by their father, Abdülhakim Elhüseyni, in 1971. Starting in 1993, the region began to be planned as a visitation area. The statement emphasized that mosques, shops, separate worship areas for men and women, and new structures were built in the village, which has become the center of the sect, effectively turning the village into a religious tourism complex.

Women Will Visit via a Separate Path

It was noted in the statement that the projects are based on the segregation of men and women. Among the new arrangements in the village, it was stated that there are special areas where women can visit the Merkad-ı Şerif without entering the village square. It was also announced that along with structures such as a science square, a soup kitchen, and a covered bazaar, squares exclusive to women have been built. These details revealed that a form of Sharia order has been established in the village.

Inheritance Feud Between Brothers Taken to a 'Sharia Court'

The inheritance dispute between the parties was taken to a Sharia court called the 'Arbitration Committee' created within their own ranks instead of official legal channels. According to the report by Gerçek Gündem, Mübarek Elhüseyni's statement included the following: “The arbitration committee, consisting of 3 caliphs, examined the claims of 'akd-i fasid' (invalid contract) regarding the properties around the mosque and heard the parties.” This development indicated that a parallel structure has been established in Menzil village, not only physically but also legally.

Money Collected Under the Pretext of 'Building a Mosque' Used to Open Businesses

One of the most striking parts of the statement was the allegation of corruption through aid and donations. It was claimed that the older brother, Saki Elhüseyni, collected money on social media under the pretext of “mosque construction,” but used this money to build different structures that included his personal offices. Furthermore, it was stated that new shops outside the scope of the project were also built. Mübarek Elhüseyni described this process as “direct damage to the Menzil village project.”

The Race to Seize Power

Mübarek Elhüseyni said that his older brother, Saki Elhüseyni, interfered with the projects in the village and declared himself the “lord of the village.” The statement included the following expressions:

“First, it was said that he would remain loyal to the project. Then, it was said, 'I don't recognize the project, I will do as I please.' Later, the approach was clearly revealed with the words, 'I am the lord of this village, what I say goes.'”

Saki Elhüseyni, who took over the leadership of the community, accused his brothers of living in luxury with the income obtained from the community's foundations. According to the information obtained, the wealth managed by the community is around 14 billion liras. The luxury vehicles purchased with this money, restaurant expenses, and newly established commercial companies revealed that the community is an organization that has turned into an economic power rather than a religious structure.

Clash with Stones and Sticks, Gendarmerie Intervention

The tension between the followers of the parties also turned into violence. A clash involving stones and sticks that broke out between the parties claiming rights to one of the mosques in the village was forcibly dispersed by the gendarmerie. This incident showed that the community is the scene of not only economic but also physical conflicts.

Sharia Was Not Enough, They Applied to State Law

When the Sharia courts failed to produce results, the parties had to resort to the civil law of the Republic of Turkey this time. Saki Elhüseyni accused his younger brothers of “acting like FETÖ” and filed lawsuits with these accusations. The legal struggle within the community is still ongoing.

Allegations Regarding President Erdoğan

It was also claimed that the inheritance feud reached as far as President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In a voice recording alleged to belong to Saki Elhüseyni, there was a claim that he “conveyed the matter to the President.” CHP Gaziantep Deputy Hasan Öztürkmen also brought this claim to the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM). In the parliamentary question he submitted, he raised the question, “Did Saki Elhüseyni meet with President Erdoğan?”