The Al-Ahd, or the Covenant Society, ( ar, جمعية العهد, ''Jamyat al-Ahd'') was a political group organized in 1913, mainly by Iraqi officers serving in the Ottoman military.Ghareeb, Edmund A. ''Historical Dictionary of Iraq'', pp. 59-60. Scarecrow Press, 2004, Most of these officers would serve in Sharif Husayn's army during the Arab Revolt and later in

Faisal Faisal, Faisel, Fayçal or Faysal ( ar, فيصل) is an Arabic given name. Faisal, Fayçal or Faysal may also refer to: People * King Faisal (disambiguation) ** Faisal I of Iraq and Syria (1885–1933), leader during the Arab Revolt ** Faisal ...

Syria Syria ( ar, سُورِيَا or سُورِيَة, translit=Sūriyā), officially the Syrian Arab Republic ( ar, الجمهورية العربية السورية, al-Jumhūrīyah al-ʻArabīyah as-Sūrīyah), is a Western Asian country loc ...

n army. It called for the independence of Iraq, with Amir Abdullah, son of Sharif Husayn, as king and Prince Zayd as his deputy; and the eventual union of Iraq with Syria. Later on, it sought economic and technical support from Britain as long as this aid did not hamper or undermine true freedom. The group held its first meetings in

Damascus )), is an adjective which means "spacious". , motto = , image_flag = Flag of Damascus.svg , image_seal = Emblem of Damascus.svg , seal_type = Seal , map_caption = , ...

and then established a number of branches in other Arab areas, including Iraq, notably in Baghdad and Mosul. It published a magazine, ''al-Lisan''. Its Iraqi members included Yasin al-Hashimi, Nuri as-Said, Jafar al-Askari, and Jamil al-Midfai.

'Aziz 'Ali al-Misri Aziz Ali al-Misri (; '' ar, عزيز علي المصري'') (1879 – 15 June 1965) was an Egyptian chief of staff and politician. He co-founded of al-Qahtaniyya, and al-‘Ahd (The Covenant), and participated in a prominent role during the Ara ...

was one of its Egyptian members. It also gained the support of

Talib al-Naqib Talib Pasha bin Rajab Al-Naqib Al-Refa'i ( ar, طالب باشا بن رجب النقيب الرفاعي) was an Iraqi politician, who became the first Minister of Interior in Iraq. Family He is Talib bin Rajab bin Muhammad Sa'eed bin Talib Al ...

, who provided financial as well as moral support for its activities. Muhammed Sharif al-Faruqi, an officer whose talks with the British partially led to the British support of the Arab Revolt, claimed to be a member of Al-'Ahd, however studies later showed that this was not true.'' A Peace To End All Peace'', David Fromkin, Avon Books, New York, 1990 Following the ouster of Faisal's Arab government from Syria in 1920, the group transferred its headquarters to

Aleppo )), is an adjective which means "white-colored mixed with black". , motto = , image_map = , mapsize = , map_caption = , image_map1 = ...

and Deir ez-Zor to continue to seek the establishment of an Arab government for Iraq. However, Faisal's collapse had greatly weakened the group, and its activities ceased soon after. The party was re-established in 1930 after Nuri al-Said concluded the Anglo-Iraqi Treaty of 1930, which prompted a larger political reorganization in the country. Keeping in line with its original values, it promoted good relations with the British but also end the

Mandate of Iraq The Mandate for Mesopotamia ( ar, الانتداب البريطاني على العراق) was a proposed League of Nations mandate to cover Ottoman Iraq (Mesopotamia). It would have been entrusted to the United Kingdom but was superseded by the ...

to an end and bring about true independence. After true independence was achieved in 1932, the party was dissolved yet again. Independent Iraq: A Study In Iraqi Politics Since 1932, pp. 31, Majid Khadduri

References

{{reflist Politics of Iraq Military history of Iraq Organizations established in 1913 1913 establishments in the Ottoman Empire Arab nationalism in the Ottoman Empire 1910s in Ottoman Syria

See also

References