Ajyad Fortress

Ajyad Fortress
Fort on top of a hill
TypeFort
LocationMecca, Saudi Arabia
Built1780
Demolished1–9 January 2002

The Ajyad Fortress (Ottoman Turkish: قلعهٔ اجیاد, Turkish: Ecyad Kalesi; Arabic: قلعة أجياد) was an Ottoman citadel which stood on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque of Mecca, in what is now Saudi Arabia. Built in the late 18th century, it was demolished by the Saudi government in 2002 for commercial development of the Abraj Al Bait, sparking outcry from Turkey and other concerned Muslims of the world.

History

The fortress was built in 1780 under Ottoman rule (later Hejaz vilayet) to protect the Kaaba in Mecca from bandits and invaders.[1][2] The fort covered some 23,000 m2 (250,000 sq ft) on Bulbul Mountain[3] (a spur of Jebel Kuda) overlooking the Masjid al-Haram from the south. The Ottoman Empire ruled a vast empire covering the Arabian Peninsula, the Balkans, and North Africa. However, the empire disintegrated at the beginning of the 20th century and present-day Turkey was established as a secular state.[2]

From 1 to 9 January 2002 the Ajyad Fortress was demolished and most of Bulbul mount was leveled,[3] to clear the area for the $15 billion construction project.[4][5]

Reactions

The Ajyad Fortress in the background of the Kaaba, in 1889.

The destruction of the historic structure stirred both domestic and international protest.[6] The Turkish Foreign Minister İsmail Cem İpekçi as well as several institutions tried to prevent the demolition.[7] The Turkish Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Ertuğrul Kumcuoğlu even suggested a boycott on travelling to Saudi Arabia.[8] The Turkish Ministry of Culture and Tourism condemned the obliteration of the fortress, comparing the act to the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamyan, and accusing the Saudi authorities of "continuing with their policy of demolishing Ottoman heritage sites".[9][10]

The French news agency Agence France-Presse (AFP) quoted Saudi Islamic affairs Minister Saleh al-Shaikh as saying "no-one has the right to interfere in what comes under the state's authority". In reference to the housing component of the plan, al-Sheikh added that it was intended to house pilgrims to Mecca, and said "this is in the interest of Muslims all over the world".[11] Arab commenters are dismissive of the protests against the destruction, and ascribed them to a residual bitterness on the loss of Arabian peninsula by Ottoman Empire.[12]

However, the destruction of this and other historic sites fueled criticism of the Saudis, and plans were made to rebuild the castle, as ordered by the King in 2001:[13]

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.[14]

A 1⁄25 scale model of the fortress is included along with other architectural models at the Miniatürk miniature park in Istanbul, Turkey.[15]

See also

References

  1. ^ Simon Wheelan (28 January 2002). "Saudi government demolishes historic Ottoman castle". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Saudis hit back over Mecca castle". BBC News. 9 January 2002. Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  3. ^ a b "Historic Makkah fortress demolished". Arab News. 9 January 2002. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Revealed: The world's 20 most expensive buildings". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 28 July 2018.of Abraj Al Bait Towers.
  5. ^ Amer, Pakinam (15 April 2007). "Mekah residents claim their needs being ignored". Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 9 August 2011.
  6. ^ Gossett, Sherrie. "Mecca Conference Criticized for Hypocrisy on Holy Site Destruction". crosswalk.com. Archived from the original on 18 May 2008. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
  7. ^ "Turkish FM Accuses Saudis for Demolition of Ottoman Castle". People's Daily. 10 January 2002. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  8. ^ "Ecyad Castle". Retrieved 20 January 2015.
  9. ^ Palmer, Jason (9 January 2002). "Destroying Ottoman castle to build hotel is 'cultural massacre'". The Independent. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  10. ^ Turkish Ministry of Culture Announcement Retrieved 03-28-2008 Archived 24 September 2006 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Wheelan, Simon (28 January 2002). "Saudi government demolishes historic Ottoman castle". World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 10 May 2008. Retrieved 2 April 2008.
  12. ^ Masters, Bruce Alan. The Arab of the Ottoman Empire. Cambridge University Press. pp. I. ISBN 978-1-107-61903-6.
  13. ^ "Holy site expansion to preserve historic Ajyad Fort". Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia at Washington D.C. 9 January 2002. Archived from the original on 31 October 2005. Retrieved 9 April 2008.
  14. ^ https://www.arabnews.com/node/217196
  15. ^ "Ecyad Kalesi". Miniatürk. 10 January 2018. Archived from the original on 14 May 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.

21°25′08″N 39°49′35″E / 21.41889°N 39.82639°E / 21.41889; 39.82639