Ahmad Agha Duzdar Al-Asali
أحمد آغا بن فضل الدين آغا العسلي دزدار
Ahmad Agha's tent, on his journey from Jerusalem to the Dead Sea with David Roberts, published in The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia.
Ottoman Governor of Jerusalem
In office
1838–1863
Personal details
Born
Ahmad Agha Fadhelaldin Agha Al-Asali Duzdar
Resting placeMamilla Cemetery, Jerusalem
NationalityOttoman
OccupationPolitician
Known forSelling land to Moses Montefiore for Mishkenot Sha'ananim

Ahmad Agha Fadhelaldin Agha Al-Asali Duzdar (Arabic: أحمد آغا بن فضل الدين آغا العسلي دزدار) was mayor of Jerusalem and Governor of Jerusalem from 1838 to as late as 1863.

In 1838 Ahmad Agha accompanied David Roberts from Jerusalem to the river Jordan, together with 4,000 Christian pilgrims.[1]

His name appears in a petition by Muhammad Sharif in 1840 demanding that "the Jews must not be enabled to carry out the paving, and they must be cautioned against raising their voices and displaying their books at the Western wall."[2]

His official title was 'Ottoman Governor of Jerusalem'. He was known for his dealings with Moses Montefiore, having sold him the land to acquire Mishkenot Sha'ananim, which was built in 1860.[3]

In 2005, the Turkish government in consultation with the Wakf built a marker for his grave which is in the southern end of the Mamilla Cemetery in west Jerusalem.

References

  1. ↑ The Holy Land, Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia, "While at Jerusalem, Mr. Roberts received much kindness and assistance from the then governor, Achmet Aga, whom he accompanied with above four thousand Christian pilgrims to Jericho and the river Jordan"
  2. ↑ http://domino.un.org/unispal.nsf/d80185e9f0c69a7b85256cbf005afeac/59a92104ed00dc468525625b00527fea!OpenDocument Archived 2006-07-21 at the Wayback Machine, See also: A/7057 - S/8427* dated 23 February 1968
  3. ↑ Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore : comprising their life and work as recorded in their diaries from 1812 to 1883, Volume 2, pages 51-52: “Ahhmed Agha Dizdar, who had been Governor of Jerusalem during the reign of Mohhammad Ali, and who since the year 1839 had stood in friendly relations with Sir Moses, was the owner of the land in question. When Sir Moses broached the subject of the purchase to him, his answer was: "You are my friend, my brother, the apple of my eye, take possession of it at once. This land I hold as an heirloom from my ancestors. I would not sell it to any person for thousands of pounds, but to you I give it without any money: it is yours, take possession of it." " I myself, my wife, and children, we all are yours." And this was his reply to Sir Moses day after day, whenever he was asked the price for which he would sell the said property. Ultimately, after a whole day's most friendly argument, which almost exhausted all my stock of Arabic phraseology (having acted as interpreter between him and Sir Moses), he said to me: "You are my friend, my brother; by my beard, my head, I declare this is the case. Tell Sir Moses to give me a souvenir of one thousand pounds sterling, and we will go at once to the Ckadee."
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