El Akir was the Saracen Emir of Lydda. He served under Sultan Saladin during the Crusades.
El Akir murdered his own brother, and, when he tried to make the widow marry him, she scarred him, causing her death. (PROSE: Doctor Who and the Crusaders [+]Loading...["Doctor Who and the Crusaders (novelisation)"])
Akir tried to capture King Richard I of England in an ambush in 1190 but instead captured William des Preaux, who claimed to be the King.
He took William and Barbara Wright to Saladin who took Barbara as his servant. Barbara publicly embarrassed Akir and so he developed a grudge against her. He hired Luigi Ferrigo to help him kidnap Barbara. It was a success; Akir took her back to Lydda as his personal slave. Ian Chesterton rescued her and El Akir was stabbed and killed by Haroun ed-Din, the father of one of his slaves. (TV: The Crusade [+]Loading...["The Crusade (TV story)"])