Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Jordan Region
Encyclopedia
The Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Jordan Region (Arab: حزب البعث العربي الاشتراكي الأردني Hizb al-Baath al-Arabi al-Ishtiraki al-Urduni) is a ba'athist
regional organisation founded in 1951.
in Syria in 1947, ba'athist
ideas spread throughout the Arab world
. In Jordan ba'athist thought first spread to the East Bank in the late-1940s, most notably at universities. While the regional branch was not formed before 1951, several meetings took place at the universities were students and professors alike would discuss the ideology of the newly established Syrian ba'athist party. Several people expressed their support for ba'athist ideology at this meetings, but the regional branch itself was not formed until 1951 in Karak
by a group of teachers. A clinic owned by Abd al-Rahman Shuqyar became a meeting place for ba'athist in the organisations early days. In the West Bank
the party was most active in the cities of Jerusalem and Ramallah
. Bahjat Abu Gharbiyah was the West Bank ba'ath member, and because of it, was responsible for building up the party organisation in this area.
The Ba'ath Party's first regional conference was held in 1951 at Abdullah Rimawi
's home. At this meeting the party's first ideological programme was layed out, and a plan which mapped out the "future course of the party". The following year, in 1952, another meeting was held, this time in Abdullah Na'was' home. At this conference a Regional Command was elected with Rimawi as it's General Secretary, while Shugyar, Gharbiyah and Na'was were elected to the Central Committee. Rimawi and Na'was would prove to be effective leaders, and their recrutment campaign proved successful in both Jordanian and Palestinian neighbourhoods and cities. The regional branch became a legalised party on 28 August 1956 by a decision of the Jordanian High Court.
Both Rimawi and Na'was were elected to Parliament
during the 1950
and 1951 elections
as independents (the Ba'ath Party was not a legalised party at this time). The party managed to get three ba'athists elected to Parliament in the 1951 election, however, during the 1954 election
they lost all their seats. Rimawi was re-elected in the 1956 election
to the Jordanian parliament, and retained his seat until the 1961 election
. As voting patterns would prove, the largest concentrations of ba'athists lived in Irbid
and Amman
on the East Bank, and Jerusalem and Nablus
on the West Bank. Shuqyar during his forced exile inside Jordan, was influenced by communist thought during his exile. When his exile ended, Shuqyar tried to form a National Front with the Jordanian Communist Party
and the Ba'ath regional organisation as it's leading members. However, his fellow ba'athist colleagues opposed this idea, and because of it, Shuqyar left the party.
The party was again legally registered in 1993. From then on it has been led by Akram al-Homsi
. Khalil Haddadeen, Jordan's former Minister of Information, was elected to Parliament during the 1993
and 1997 elections
on a pro-Iraqi and pro-Saddam Hussein
stance.
Ba'athism
Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi , Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar...
regional organisation founded in 1951.
History
Following the establishment of the Arab Ba'ath MovementArab Ba'ath Movement
The Arab Ba'ath Movement , also literally translated as Arab Resurrection Movement or Arab Renaissance Movement, was the Ba'athist political movement and predacessor of the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party...
in Syria in 1947, ba'athist
Ba'athism
Ba'athism is an Arab nationalist ideology that promotes the development and creation of an Arab nation through the leadership of a vanguard party over a progressive revolutionary state. The ideology is officially based on the theories of Zaki al-Arsuzi , Michel Aflaq and Salah al-Din al-Bitar...
ideas spread throughout the Arab world
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
. In Jordan ba'athist thought first spread to the East Bank in the late-1940s, most notably at universities. While the regional branch was not formed before 1951, several meetings took place at the universities were students and professors alike would discuss the ideology of the newly established Syrian ba'athist party. Several people expressed their support for ba'athist ideology at this meetings, but the regional branch itself was not formed until 1951 in Karak
Karak
The term Karak can refer to:* Karak, Pakistan, a city in Pakistan.* Karak District, a district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa previously called , Pakistan....
by a group of teachers. A clinic owned by Abd al-Rahman Shuqyar became a meeting place for ba'athist in the organisations early days. In the West Bank
West Bank
The West Bank ) of the Jordan River is the landlocked geographical eastern part of the Palestinian territories located in Western Asia. To the west, north, and south, the West Bank shares borders with the state of Israel. To the east, across the Jordan River, lies the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan...
the party was most active in the cities of Jerusalem and Ramallah
Ramallah
Ramallah is a Palestinian city in the central West Bank located 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, adjacent to al-Bireh. It currently serves as the de facto administrative capital of the Palestinian National Authority...
. Bahjat Abu Gharbiyah was the West Bank ba'ath member, and because of it, was responsible for building up the party organisation in this area.
The Ba'ath Party's first regional conference was held in 1951 at Abdullah Rimawi
Abdullah Rimawi
Abdullah Rimawi also spelled as Abdullah ar-Rimawi was the head of the Ba'ath Party in Jordan in the 1950s. He served as Foreign Affairs Minister in Sulayman al-Nabulsi's government in 1957. A staunch pan-Arabist, Rimawi became one the most vocal opponents of the Hashemite ruling family in Jordan...
's home. At this meeting the party's first ideological programme was layed out, and a plan which mapped out the "future course of the party". The following year, in 1952, another meeting was held, this time in Abdullah Na'was' home. At this conference a Regional Command was elected with Rimawi as it's General Secretary, while Shugyar, Gharbiyah and Na'was were elected to the Central Committee. Rimawi and Na'was would prove to be effective leaders, and their recrutment campaign proved successful in both Jordanian and Palestinian neighbourhoods and cities. The regional branch became a legalised party on 28 August 1956 by a decision of the Jordanian High Court.
Both Rimawi and Na'was were elected to Parliament
Parliament of Jordan
The Parliament of Jordan is the bicameral Jordanian National Assembly: "Majlis al-Umma". Established by the 1952 Constitution, the legislature consists of two houses: the Assembly of Senators and the Chamber of Deputies .The Assembly of Senators has 60 members, all of whom are directly appointed...
during the 1950
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1950
General elections were held in Jordan on 2 April 1950. As political parties were banned at the time, all candidates ran as independents, although some were affiliated with the Liberal Party, the Jordanian Communist Party, the Ba'ath Party the Arab Constitutional Party and the Umma Party....
and 1951 elections
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1951
General elections were held in Jordan on 29 August 1951. As political parties were banned at the time, all candidates ran as independents, although some affiliated with the Jordanian Communist Party, the Ba'ath Party the Arab Constitutional Party and the Umma Party all won seats....
as independents (the Ba'ath Party was not a legalised party at this time). The party managed to get three ba'athists elected to Parliament in the 1951 election, however, during the 1954 election
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1954
General elections were held in Jordan on 16 October 1954, the first that political parties were allowed to contest. The result was a victory for independent candidates, which won 38 of the 40 seats, with the other two going to the Liberal Party and the Umma Party.-Results:...
they lost all their seats. Rimawi was re-elected in the 1956 election
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1956
General elections were held in Jordan on 21 October 1956. The National Socialist Party emerged as the largest party, with 11 seats.-Results:...
to the Jordanian parliament, and retained his seat until the 1961 election
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1961
General elections were held in Jordan on 19 October 1961. As political parties were banned at the time, all candidates ran as independents....
. As voting patterns would prove, the largest concentrations of ba'athists lived in Irbid
Irbid
Irbid , known in ancient times as Arabella or Arbela , is the capital and largest city of the Irbid Governorate. It also has the second largest metropolitan population in Jordan after Amman, with a population of around 660,000, and is located about 70 km north of Amman on the northern ridge of...
and Amman
Amman
Amman is the capital of Jordan. It is the country's political, cultural and commercial centre and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. The Greater Amman area has a population of 2,842,629 as of 2010. The population of Amman is expected to jump from 2.8 million to almost...
on the East Bank, and Jerusalem and Nablus
Nablus
Nablus is a Palestinian city in the northern West Bank, approximately north of Jerusalem, with a population of 126,132. Located in a strategic position between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim, it is the capital of the Nablus Governorate and a Palestinian commercial and cultural center.Founded by the...
on the West Bank. Shuqyar during his forced exile inside Jordan, was influenced by communist thought during his exile. When his exile ended, Shuqyar tried to form a National Front with the Jordanian Communist Party
Jordanian Communist Party
The Jordanian Communist Party is a communist political party in Jordan, founded in 1948. Its current general secretary is Dr. Munir Hamarana...
and the Ba'ath regional organisation as it's leading members. However, his fellow ba'athist colleagues opposed this idea, and because of it, Shuqyar left the party.
The party was again legally registered in 1993. From then on it has been led by Akram al-Homsi
Akram al-Homsi
Akram al-Homsi is the Secretary-General of the Jordanian branch of the Ba'ath Party.- References :...
. Khalil Haddadeen, Jordan's former Minister of Information, was elected to Parliament during the 1993
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1993
General elections were held in Jordan on 8 November 1993, the first in which political parties were allowed to run since 1956. Independents won 60 of the 80 seats, with the Islamic Action Front emerging as the largest single party. Voter turnout was 54.8%....
and 1997 elections
Jordanian parliamentary election, 1997
General elections were held in Jordan on 4 November 1997. They were boycotted by the main opposition parties, and saw independents won 75 of the 80 seats. Voter turnout was 44.7%.-Results:...
on a pro-Iraqi and pro-Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
stance.