Ajyad Fortress
{{short description|Ottoman historical citadel in Mecca (1780–2002)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox historic site
| name = Ajyad Fortress
| image = Ajyad Fortress.jpg
| alt = Fort on top of a hill
| built = 1780
| demolished = 1–9 January 2002
| location = Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| type = Fort
}}
The Ajyad Fortress ({{langx|ota-Arab|قلعهٔ اجیاد}}, {{langx|tr|Ecyad Kalesi}}; {{langx|ar|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 protests 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2002/01/fort-j28.html|title=Saudi government demolishes historic Ottoman castle |work=World Socialist Web Site|author=Simon Wheelan|date=28 January 2002|access-date=20 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1748711.stm|work=BBC News |title=Saudis hit back over Mecca castle|date=9 January 2002 |access-date=20 January 2015}} The fort covered some {{convert|23000|m2|abbr=on}} on Bulbul Mountain{{cite news |url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/217526 |work=Arab News |title=Historic Makkah fortress demolished |date=9 January 2002 |access-date=9 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119123251/https://www.arabnews.com/node/217526 |archive-date=19 January 2021}} (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.
From 1 to 9 January 2002 the Ajyad Fortress was demolished and most of Bulbul mount was leveled, to clear the area for the $15 billion construction project.
{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/the-worlds-most-expensive-buildings/|website=The Telegraph|title=Revealed: The world's 20 most expensive buildings|access-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728183422/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/the-worlds-most-expensive-buildings/|archive-date=28 July 2018|url-status=dead}}of Abraj Al Bait Towers.{{cite news|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809114318/http://www.bt.com.bn/classification/business/2007/04/15/mekah_residents_claim_their_needs_being_ignored |archive-date=9 August 2011 |url=http://www.bt.com.bn/classification/business/2007/04/15/mekah_residents_claim_their_needs_being_ignored |url-status=dead |work=Brunei Times |title=Mekah residents claim their needs being ignored |first=Pakinam |last=Amer |date=15 April 2007}}
Reactions
File:Mecca prayer, 1889.tif, in 1889.]]
The destruction of the historic structure stirred both domestic and international protest.
{{cite web
| last = Gossett
| first = Sherrie
| title = Mecca Conference Criticized for Hypocrisy on Holy Site Destruction
| publisher = crosswalk.com
| url = http://www.crosswalk.com/1370691/
| access-date = 2008-04-09| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080518002209/http://www.crosswalk.com/1370691/| archive-date= 18 May 2008 | url-status= live}}
The Turkish Foreign Minister İsmail Cem İpekçi as well as several institutions tried to prevent the demolition.{{cite news |url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200201/10/eng20020110_88401.shtml |date=10 January 2002 |title=Turkish FM Accuses Saudis for Demolition of Ottoman Castle |work=People's Daily |access-date=9 March 2021}} The Turkish Democratic Left Party (DSP) Deputy Ertuğrul Kumcuoğlu even suggested a boycott on travelling to Saudi Arabia.{{cite web|url=http://www.ottomansouvenir.com/General/Ecyad_Castle.htm|title=Ecyad Castle|access-date=20 January 2015}} 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".
{{cite web
| last = Palmer
| first = Jason
| title = Destroying Ottoman castle to build hotel is 'cultural massacre'
| work = The Independent
| date = 2002-01-09
| url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/destroying-ottoman-castle-build-hotel-cultural-massacre-9162998.html
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".{{cite web
| last = Wheelan
| first = Simon
| title = Saudi government demolishes historic Ottoman castle
| publisher = World Socialist Web Site
| date = 2002-01-28
| url = http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jan2002/fort-j28.shtml
| access-date = 2008-04-02| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080510125055/http://www.wsws.org/articles/2002/jan2002/fort-j28.shtml| archive-date= 10 May 2008 | url-status= live}} Arab commenters are dismissive of the protests against the destruction, and ascribed them to a residual bitterness on the loss of the Arabian peninsula by the Ottoman Empire.{{cite book |last1=Masters |first1=Bruce Alan |title=The Arab of the Ottoman Empire |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-107-61903-6 |pages=I}}
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:
{{cite web
|title=Holy site expansion to preserve historic Ajyad Fort
|publisher=Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia at Washington D.C.
|date=2002-01-09
|url=http://www.saudiembassy.net/2002News/News/CulDetail.asp?cIndex=965
|access-date=2008-04-09
|url-status=dead
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051031105046/http://www.saudiembassy.net/2002News/News/CulDetail.asp?cIndex=965
|archive-date=31 October 2005
}}
{{blockquote|text=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.https://www.arabnews.com/node/217196}}
A {{frac|25}} scale model of the fortress is included along with other architectural models at the Miniatürk miniature park in Istanbul, Turkey.{{cite web |url=https://www.miniaturk.com.tr/tr/ecyad-kalesi-eser-791 |title=Ecyad Kalesi |date=10 January 2018 |publisher=Miniatürk |access-date=9 March 2021 |archive-date=14 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514161507/https://www.miniaturk.com.tr/tr/ecyad-kalesi-eser-791 |url-status=dead }}
See also
{{Portal|Saudi Arabia}}
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}{{Castles in Saudi Arabia}}{{coord|21|25|08|N|39|49|35|E|region:SA-02_type:landmark|display=title}}
Category:Forts in Saudi Arabia
Category:Ottoman fortifications
Category:Buildings and structures in Mecca
Category:Demolished buildings and structures in Saudi Arabia
Category:Military installations established in 1781