Ahmad Agha Duzdar Explained

Ahmad Agha Duzdar Al-Asali
Office1:Ottoman Governor of Jerusalem
Term Start1:1838
Term End1:1863
Native Name:Arabic: أحمد آغا بن فضل الدين آغا العسلي دزدار
Birth Name:Ahmad Agha Fadhelaldin Agha Al-Asali Duzdar
Resting Place:Mamilla Cemetery, Jerusalem
Years Active:1838-1863
Nationality:Ottoman
Occupation:Politician
Known For:Selling 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.

Notes and 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, See also: A/7057 - S/8427* dated 23 February 1968
  3. https://archive.org/details/diariesofsirmose02montiala/page/50/mode/2up Diaries of Sir Moses and Lady Montefiore : comprising their life and work as recorded in their diaries from 1812 to 1883, Volume 2