Leader in Syrian independence movement Nasib al-Bakri

1 leader in syrian independence movement

1.1 ally of hashemites
1.2 role in great syrian revolt
1.3 politician during french mandatory rule

leader in syrian independence movement
ally of hashemites

al-bakri (left) rebel commander fawzi al-qawuqji (center) during 1925 hama uprising

in 1915, nasib hosted faisal @ ghouta country house , invited him join al-fatat, reportedly agreed to. @ same time, al-bakri organized meeting between him, members of al-fatat, , druze chiefs of hauran, hussein , sultan al-atrash intention of gaining druze support planned arab rebellion against ottomans (the druze had launched several uprisings against ottomans prior). meeting concluded druze offering faisal , nationalists backing, though short of military support. meeting first of kind between hashemites , druze, , afterward faisal appointed al-bakri personal secretary , envoy druze, post serve until 1920.

in summer of 1916, amid world war i, sharif hussein launched great arab revolt against ottomans mecca backing of british military. al-bakri joined revolt , moved hejaz served channel between al-fatat based in damascus , hashemite forces leading uprising. when ottomans defeated in 1918 , arab , british forces reached damascus, faisal become king of syria , al-bakri served 1 of advisers. next year al-bakri co-founded first legal political party in faisal s syria, pan-arabist al-istiqlal ( independence ) sought unify former ottoman-held arab territories under leadership of hashemites. during period until 1920, al-bakri member of syrian national congress representative of damascus.

france invaded , began occupying syria in 1919 , following battle of maysalun in july 1920, faisal exiled , kingdom annulled. al-bakri left amman in transjordan, under authority of faisal s brother king abdullah. al-bakri later serve abdullah s aide in 1921, position held 2 years before returning syria after french issued amnesty political exiles. on return, became member of al-shahbandar s people s party , actively sought topple french authorities in syria , align country ruling hashemites in iraq, transjordan , hejaz. hashemites driven out of latter in 1925 saudis.

role in great syrian revolt

al-bakri s home after destruction french during nationwide revolt of 1925



prime minister lutfi al-haffar @ sarail on 23 february 1939. al-bakri standing in front row, first left

the summer of 1925 saw beginning of great syrian revolt, launched sultan pasha al-atrash in jabal al-arab region in southern syria. after atrash s men destroyed french column @ al-kafr, al-bakri received letter al-atrash on 23 july calling on nationalists in damascus join revolt; al-bakri subsequently joined. following french defeat @ battle of mazraa on 3 august, al-bakri began working abd al-ghaffar al-atrash, druze chief of al-suwayda, advance revolt other parts of country outside of hauran. al-bakri set meeting between damascus-based nationalists , sultan al-atrash @ home in qaboun, after 2 sides agreed work uproot french syria.

following meeting, al-bakri conferred al-shahbandar, agreed bring damascus revolt, although initial attempt did not materialize. al-atrash s men headed towards damascus launch attack against french forces there, al-bakri assembled 260 armed volunteers various neighborhoods , villages in , around damascus, including al-shaghour, bab musalla, al-midan, , jaramana. al-bakri maintained particularly close ties hasan al-kharrat, local boss (qabaday) of al-shaghur , friend of al-bakri family. in august, upon al-bakri s urging, al-kharrat formed militia, become 1 of effective rebel bands in country. when french authorities informed of nationalist rebel plans, began wide-scale arrest campaign in city on 27 august, detaining of damascus s nationalist leaders , spokesmen, although al-bakri, brothers, , al-shahbandar managed evade arrest.

he participated in attacks alongside druze warriors against french positions , offices in hauran, , of rebel commanders damascus, al-bakri respected among druze. fighting between rebels , french forces in ghouta escalated, al-bakri devised operation wrest control of damascus french capturing citadel , azm palace. former housed city s french garrison, while latter housed french mandate high commissioner maurice sarrail. al-bakri requested reinforcements al-atrash , men, occupied fighting in hauran , notified al-bakri delayed. al-bakri decided move ahead nonetheless. on 17 october, assembled al-kharrat s group , group of rebels al-midan , jaramana inside damascus. next day al-kharrat launched operation.

while al-kharrat s men managed capture azm palace , police station in bab saghir, al-bakri led band of 200 fighters base in al-midan raid armenian refugee camp in al-qadam, killing several armenian refugees. rebels accused armenians—who along circassians typically allied french authorities—of participating in french military assaults against several ghouta villages in preceding weeks. after attacking al-qadam, al-bakri s forces swept through city, capturing police stations @ bab al-jabiyah, bab musalla , qanawat. each captured neighborhood, forces increased in size enthusiastic bystanders joined in attacks.

sarrail, not in damascus @ time of rebel assault, ordered aerial bombardment of city, leading destruction of whole neighborhoods , deaths of hundreds of damascus residents. 24 october, rebels routed, , al-bakri escaped. became target of criticism among other rebel leaders, namely said al- as. al- stated al-bakri sought personal glory when decided prematurely launch uncoordinated attack small numbers of armed volunteers, instead of waiting arrival of al-atrash s reinforcements, numbered around 1,000. al-bakri member of damascus nationalist elite directly participate in fighting on ground.

in december, al-bakri chaired meeting of rebel leaders in ghouta village of saqba. during meeting, launched scathing criticism of ramadan al-shallash, rebel commander deir ez-zor, condemning him levying heavy fines , other fees against residents of villages of douma, al-qisa, harran al-awamid , al-midaa had been captured rebels. however, these taxes entirely directed @ major landowners , city elites, rather commoners or peasants. defended al-shallash skilled commander, criticized al-bakri s leadership , accused him of holding secret hatreds , ambitions . nonetheless, al-bakri , ally al-kharrat managed have al-shallash expelled rebellion during meeting, , stripped of arms , insignia. however, subsequent french bombardment of saqba allowed al-shallash escape punishment. al-kharrat killed in french raid 2 weeks later, while al-shallash defected french following expulsion. al-bakri s younger brother ad killed in action in 1926.

politician during french mandatory rule

al-bakri (third left in front row) arab notables in cairo, 1930s. right palestinian journalist mohamed ali eltaher , left egyptian diplomat muhammad ali alluba

the revolt dissipated june 1927. al-bakri sentenced death in absentia french military tribunal. consequently, fled amman in transjordan. in march 1928, al-bakri, brother fawzi, , fares al-khoury amnestied french authorities , al-bakri family s properties, had been bombed french during revolt, restored them. according historian peter a. shambrook, al-bakri s inclusion on amnesty list surprising 2 reasons: maintained strong relationship france s chief rivals in region, hashemites , british patrons, , held unrivaled influence among bosses of popular quarters of damascus . french sought divide ranks of rebels , nationalist politicians pardoning leaders , blacklisting others al-atrash, al-shahbandar, , shukri al-quwatli. al-bakri s relations latter 2 subsequently grew tense accused them of diverting funds revolt personal ventures.

he , hashim al-atassi founded national bloc political party. sought use diplomatic means end french rule. part of 1928 constitutional assembly, helping draft constitution syrian republic. al-atassi appointed him vice president of national bloc in 1930. al-bakri ran parliament representative of damascus on national bloc s ticket in 1932, after winning run-off vote large margin.

in january 1936, syrian nationalist sentiments became incensed french authorities suspended parliament , appointed pro-french president taj al-din al-hasani. following arrest of nationalist leaders, general strike declared against french mandate , president al-hasani. speeches denouncing arrests , colonialism made @ umayyad mosque, after demonstrators, including students , local youths, gathered @ al-bakri s home coordinated march serail (french government headquarters). protests led al-bakri, al-quwatli , jamil mardam bey, confronted security forces before leaving al-bakri s street.

on 24 january, al-bakri led sermon @ mosque calling calm among 3,000 demonstrators in attendance. nonetheless, 300 left attack french roadblocks , police station @ souq al-hamidiyya, before withdrawing mosque. 1 protester killed , following day, al-bakri led funeral procession, attended thousands of mourners. mid-february, unrest spread throughout syria , authorities clashed syrian protesters in several cities. commander of french army of levant declared martial law , forbade public assemblies. al-bakri arrested , deported on 11 february.

he went on win election seat in 1936, 1943 , 1947. when al-atassi became president in 1936, al-bakri became chief leader of national bloc. following year, appointed al-atassi serve governor of jabal al-arab. in 1938, defected national bloc join rival people s party led former colleague al-shahbandar. in short-lived 1939 cabinet of prime minister lutfi al-haffar, bakri made justice minister, while in prime minister khalid al-azm s cabinet served national economy , agriculture minister.