Ajyad Fortress

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Adschjad - fortress above the Bulbul hill in the left background of the Kaaba, 1889

The Adschjad Fortress ( Turkish Ecyad Kalesi ) was a historical Ottoman citadel, which stood on a hill overlooking the Grand Mosque of Mecca in Saudi Arabia. Built in the late 18th century, it was destroyed in 2002 by the Saudi government for the commercial construction of the Mecca Royal Clock Tower Hotel, which caused worldwide criticism.

History

The Adschjad Fortress was (according to other sources 1780 or 1781) built in 1777 by the Ottomans to protect the Kaaba and the Islamic shrines in Mecca from bandits and invaders. The fort covered about 23,000 m² of historic Bulbul hill ( a rocky spur of Jebel Kuda ), which the al -Haram Mosque monitored from the south.

In the spring of 2002, the Adschjad fortress was demolished and the largest part of the Bulbul hill leveled to clear the area for the Abraj Al Bait Towers 533 - million - dollar project. Opened in 2012, the complex consists of several high-rise buildings of apartments, a five- star hotel in the twin towers, restaurants and a shopping center, built by the Saudi Binladin Group.

Reactions to the destruction

The destruction of the historic building led both domestically and abroad, to protests. Turkish Foreign Minister İsmail Cem İpekçi and other institutions tried to prevent the demolition. The MPs of the ruling Democratic Left Party (DSP ) Ertuğrul Kumcuoğlu even suggested a boycott of travel to Saudi Arabia. The Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism condemned the destruction of the fortress, compared the act with the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan and accused the Saudi authorities of " Continuing the policy of wanton destruction of Ottoman heritage. "

The French news agency Agence France-Presse ( AFP) quoted the Saudi Minister of Islamic Affairs Saleh al -Sheikh with the words. " No one has the right to interfere in that which falls under the authority of the state " In terms of the plans for the construction of real estate said al - Sheik, that he intended to accommodate the pilgrims to Mecca, adding: ". This is in the interest of the Muslims over the world "

However resulted in the destruction of these and other historical sites to criticism of the Saudi system, and plans were drawn up to build the castle again as it was actually placed in 2001 by the King:

"King Fahd gave his consent for the King Abdul Aziz Endowment for the Holy Haram and for the preparation of the project site by the removal of the hill and the castle. The king has ordered that the castle should be preserved by reconstruction vollstens. "

A model in 1:25 scale stands together with other architectural models in Miniature Park Miniatürk in Istanbul.

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