Ottoman Party for Administrative Decentralization

The Ottoman Party for Administrative Decentralization or (Hizb al-lamarkaziyya al-idariyya al'Uthmani) (OPAD) was a political party in the Ottoman Empire founded in January 1913. Based in Cairo, OPAD called for the reform of the Ottoman provincial administration for Arab provinces though decentralization of power and functions, rather than outright independence. The executive committee consisted of 14 members, all of whom were Syrian. Their religious affiliations were 8 Muslims, 5 Christians (Michel Tueni, Josef Hani, Pierre Tarrad, Doctor Eyub Sabit, Khalil Zeine) and one Druze (Rizcullah Arcash).[1] It was founded in part by future Prime Minister of Syria Haqqi al-Azm.

Most support for the party came from Syrian intellectuals and Muslims, though Christians were encouraged to join as well. The party was accused of being political propagandists affiliated with European imperialists.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Memories of A Turkish Statesman 1913-1919 by Djemal Pasha, p. 231
  2. ↑ Urban Notables and Arab Nationalism: The Politics of Damascus 1860-1920 By Philip S. Khoury via GoogleBooks


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