Ajyad Fortress

The Ajyad Fortress ("Ecyad" in Turkish) was an Ottoman fort built in 1781 (1777 or 1780 according to some sources) in Mecca in order to protect the Qa'aba and Muslim shrines from invaders. The fort covered some 23,000 square meters on Bulbul Mountain [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=11857&d=9&m=1&y=2002 Article] from the Arab News of 9th January 2002] (a spur from Jebel Kuda) overlooking the Great Mosque from the south. Ajyad Fortress was demolished and most of Bulbul Mountain levelled [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=11524&d=26&m=12&y=2001 Article] in the Arab News of 26th December 2001] by the Saudi government in 2002 to make space for the $533 million construction project Abraj Al Bait Towers [ [http://www.bt.com.bn/en/classification/business/2007/04/15/mekah_residents_claim_their_needs_being_ignored Article] from the Brunei Times by Pakinam Amer from Sunday, April 15, 2007, naming the demolished fortress and the new building in the same sentence] that includes 11 high-rise towers, consisting of apartments, a twin-tower five-star hotel, restaurants, and a shopping centre, all to be carried out by the Saudi Binladin Group [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Abraj Al Bait: a city within a city
work =
publisher = Qatar Construction Sites Newspaper
date =
url = http://www.qc-sites.com/read.aspx?id=162&sid=2
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-09] . The destruction of the historic structure had stirred both some domestic and international protest.cite web
last = Gossett
first = Sherrie
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Mecca Conference Criticized for Hypocrisy on Holy Site Destruction
work =
publisher = crosswalk.com
date =
url = http://www.crosswalk.com/1370691/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-09] The Turkish Foreign Minister Ismail Cem and other institutions tried to stop the destruction [ [http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200201/10/eng20020110_88401.shtml Article ] on People's Daily Online] with the Turkish Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Ertugrul Kumcuoglu even suggesting a boycott on travelling to Saudi Arabia. [ [http://www.ottomansouvenir.com/General/Ecyad_Castle.htm Cumhuriyet article] ] The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism condemned the demolishing of the fortress, paralleling the act with the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan, and accusing the Saudi authorities of "continuing with their policy of demolishing Ottoman heritages." [cite web
last = Palmer
first = Jason
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Destroying Ottoman castle to build hotel is 'cultural massacre'
work =
publisher = The Independent
date = 2002-01-09
url = http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/destroying-ottoman--castle-to-build-hotel-is-cultural-massacre-662582.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-09] [ [http://www.kultur.gov.tr/EN/BelgeGoster.aspx?17A16AE30572D313AAF6AA849816B2EF4E35FDD7960B0895 Turkish Ministry of Culture Announcement Retrieved 03-28-2008] ] The French news agency AFP, quoted Saudi Islamic affairs Minister Saleh al-Shaikh saying, “No-one has the right to interfere in what comes under the state’s authority”. In defense of the planned housing element of the new scheme, al-Sheikh added that it was intended to house pilgrims to Mecca and was quoted that “this is in the interest of Muslims all over the world”.cite web
last = Wheelan
first = Simon
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Saudi government demolishes historic Ottoman castle
work =
publisher = World Socialist Web Site
date = 2002-01-28
url = http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jan2002/fort-j28.shtml
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-02] However, the Saudis and the Wahhabi perspective were criticized over the obliteration of historic sites, citing the fortress.cite web
last = al-Alawi
first = Irfan
authorlink =
coauthors = Stephen Schwartz
title = Bulldozing Islam; Historic destruction, Wahhabi style.
work =
publisher = Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan
date = 2006-09-10
url = http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-152269768.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-09] Plans had been made to rebuild the castle as ordered by the King in 2001 [http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=11524&d=26&m=12&y=2001 Article] in the Arab News of 26th December 2001] [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Holy site expansion to preserve historic Ajyad Fort
work =
publisher = Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia at Washington D.C. Website
date = 2002-01-09
url = http://www.saudiembassy.net/2002News/News/CulDetail.asp?cIndex=965
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-04-09] :

"King Fahd has given his approval for the King Abdul Aziz Endowment for the Holy Haram and for the preparation of the project site by removing the hill and the castle. The king instructed that the castle should be preserved in full by rebuilding it," the minister said in a statement.

A 1/25 scale model of the fortress [ [http://www.miniaturk.com.tr/eng/MiniaturkRehber.asp?eser=19 Description and picture] of the model on the Miniatürk website.] is included along with other architectural models at the Miniaturk miniature park in Istanbul, Turkey.

See also

* Ottoman architecture
* The Qishla of Mecca

References