Born in 1749 in Kandiye (Candia) on Crete, Ali Aziz Efendi was an Ottoman statesman, man of letters and Sufi. He was known for his deep knowledge of Sufism, Hurufism and the Bektashi tradition; his best-known work is 'Muhayyelat', regarded as a precursor of the new Turkish literature of the post-Tanzimat era. Sent as ambassador to Prussia in 1796, he died in Berlin in 1798. His grave formed the nucleus of the first Muslim cemetery in Germany (today's Columbiadamm Turkish Cemetery); an obelisk commemorating him stands at its centre.