Abdul Rahman Shahbandar (;
ALA-LC
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: ''‘Abd al-Raḥman al-Shahbandar''; November 6, 1879 – July 6, 1940) was a Syrian statesman and prominent nationalist figure during the
French Mandate of Syria. He was a leading opponent of compromise with the French colonial authority in Syria, and his devotion to
Arab nationalism dated to the days of the
Committee of Union and Progress
The Ottoman Committee of Union and Progress (CUP, also translated as the Society of Union and Progress; , French language, French: ''Union et Progrès'') was a revolutionary group, secret society, and political party, active between 1889 and 1926 ...
and its "Turkification" policies. Shahbandar supported the
Arab Revolt during the
First World War
World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...
and briefly headed the foreign ministry under Emir
Faisal.
Life
When France occupied Syria in July 1920 he fled the country. Shahbandar returned in 1921 and organized the
Iron Hand Society to agitate against French rule. This was the first Syrian nationalist group to emerge in
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
during the Mandate and Shahbandar organized its spread to
Homs
Homs ( ; ), known in pre-Islamic times as Emesa ( ; ), is a city in western Syria and the capital of the Homs Governorate. It is Metres above sea level, above sea level and is located north of Damascus. Located on the Orontes River, Homs is ...
and
Hama.
[In ]Aleppo
Aleppo is a city in Syria, which serves as the capital of the Aleppo Governorate, the most populous Governorates of Syria, governorate of Syria. With an estimated population of 2,098,000 residents it is Syria's largest city by urban area, and ...
a similar organization called the Red Hand Society also agitated against French rule. In April 1922, the French arrested him and other Iron Hand leaders for incitement against their rule. The arrests triggered several days of demonstrations and bloody confrontation between protesters and French forces in Damascus. Nonetheless, the French tried Shahbandar for subversive activities and sentenced him to 20 years of imprisonment.
After serving 1½ years of his sentence the French sent him into exile where he joined the activities of the Syrian-Palestine Congress based in
Cairo
Cairo ( ; , ) is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Egypt and the Cairo Governorate, being home to more than 10 million people. It is also part of the List of urban agglomerations in Africa, largest urban agglomeration in Africa, L ...
. The French allowed him to return to Syria in 1924. The following year Shahbandar guided the formation of Syria's first nationalist party, the
People's Party. He then helped organize the spread of the
Syrian Revolution from
Jabal Druze to the rest of Syria. He eluded the French authorities and moved to Jabal Druze for the duration of the revolt. There he and
Sultan al-Atrash formed a provisional government. When the revolt collapsed in 1927 Shahbandar fled to
Transjordan and from there to
Egypt
Egypt ( , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a country spanning the Northeast Africa, northeast corner of Africa and Western Asia, southwest corner of Asia via the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to northe ...
.
In 1937 a French amnesty allowed him to return from exile and he directed his supporters to oppose the
Franco-Syrian Treaty on the grounds that it granted France privileges that detracted from Syrian sovereignty. He was joined by powerful Syrian politicians such as
Munir al-Ajlani. He also directed a political campaign to discredit the
National Bloc government of Prime Minister
Jamil Mardam Bey. During
World War II
World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
the French considered cooperating with Shahbandar because of his opposition to the National Bloc and because of support for him from Britain and the
Hashemites.
Death
In July 6, 1940, Shahbandar was killed in
Damascus
Damascus ( , ; ) is the capital and List of largest cities in the Levant region by population, largest city of Syria. It is the oldest capital in the world and, according to some, the fourth Holiest sites in Islam, holiest city in Islam. Kno ...
. The French accused several prominent National Bloc figures, including Jamil Mardam and
Saadallah al-Jabiri, of plotting the murder and they fled to
Iraq
Iraq, officially the Republic of Iraq, is a country in West Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to Iraq–Saudi Arabia border, the south, Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq border, the east, the Persian Gulf and ...
. While Shahbandar was one of Syria's most popular leaders he never built up an organization that would perpetuate his political legacy.
Notes
See also
*
Great Syrian Revolt
The Great Syrian Revolt (), also known as the Revolt of 1925, was a general uprising across the State of Syria (1925–1930), State of Syria and Greater Lebanon during the period of 1925 to 1927. The leading rebel forces initially comprised figh ...
*
Ayyash Al-Haj
*
Ibrahim Hananu
*
Yusuf al-'Azma
*
Sultan Al-Atrash
*
Hasan al-Kharrat
*
Mandate for Syria and the Lebanon
*
Henri Gouraud
*
Syria
Syria, officially the Syrian Arab Republic, is a country in West Asia located in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Levant. It borders the Mediterranean Sea to the west, Turkey to Syria–Turkey border, the north, Iraq to Iraq–Syria border, t ...
*
Adham Khanjar
*
Saleh Al-Ali
*
Fawzi al-Qawuqji
Hananu, 1932.jpg, Ibrahim Hananu
Ayash Alhaj 1.jpg, Ayyash Al-Haj
Sultan Pasha al-Atrash.jpg, Sultan Al-Atrash
Saleh al-Ali.jpg, Saleh Al-Ali
Hasan Kharrat cropped 1925.jpg, Hasan al-Kharrat
B10114201429.jpg, Fawzi al-Qawuqji
References
* Commins, David Dean. ''Historical Dictionary of Syria'', pp. 142, 236-37. Scarecrow Press, 2004, .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Shahbandar, Abd Al Rahman
1879 births
1940 deaths
Syrian nationalists
Foreign ministers of Syria
20th-century Syrian people
Assassinated Syrian politicians
People murdered in Syria
People's Party (Syria) politicians
People of the Great Syrian Revolt
Syrian Arab nationalists
Arab independence activists
Politicians assassinated in the 1940s
Syrian exiles