(CE:1516a)
MALATI YUSUF, originally the administrative assistant of the bey Ayyub the Defterdar (accountant general), one of the later Mamluk amirs of the powerful party of the bey Muhammad Abu al-Dhahab, prior to the French Expedition. Malati Yusuf became better known under French rule. When the French were established in the country, they organized the administration of justice by the creation of a special diwan or commission of twelve members, half of whom were Copts and half were Muslim, under the chairmanship of Malati Yusuf. Little is known of Malati's life and work beyond this commission, though we must assume his relative knowledge of French and of legal studies to have been entrusted with such an important function. In this capacity his name appeared with three Frenchmen, Magallon, Pagliano, and Tallian, together with a Muslim called the effendi Mustafa, who fixed lawful taxes instead of the confusion of unprescribed imposts under the Mamluks. However, with the termination of French rule of Egypt, Malati was executed by the Ottomans for his active participation with their enemy.
MOUNIR SHOUCRI
