Following the establishment of the Turkish Republic and the abolition of the Ottoman Empire and the Ottoman Caliphate, the entire Ottoman Imperial family were forced into exile in March 1924. Aged 38, Ömer Hilmi, left Turkey never to return, since he died before the decree of exile was lifted. He went into exile with his mother, Mihrengiz Kadın, who had been the wife of Sultan Mehmed V, and with his two young children, Mahmud Namık and Emine Mükbile.