Maamun al-Kuzbari
Encyclopedia
Maamun al-Kuzbari was a Syria
n literary personality, politician and acting head of state (September 29 - November 20, 1961) from a prominent Damascus
family.
at the University of Lyon
's affiliate Saint Joseph University in Beirut and became an attorney in Damascus in 1943 and a professor at Damascus University in 1948. He entered parliament as an independent in 1953, allying himself with military strongman Adib al-Shishakli. He was elected Speaker of parliament and chairman of the Constitutional Assembly charged by Shishakli to amend the constitution. Shishakli also appointed him secretary general of the Arab Liberation Movement (ALM), Shishakli's political vehicle. He also managed the party's daily newspaper, Al Tahrir al Arabi ("The Arab Liberation"). After Shishakli was overthrown, Kuzbari in his position as Speaker, and according to the constitution, was declared acting President in an emergency session of parliament on February 25, 1954. He succeeded in avoiding military confrontation among the supporters and opponents of Shishakli within the Syrian army and called the former President Hashim al-Atassi
, whose administration was interrupted by Shishakli's coup
in 1949, to come back to Damascus in order to complete his term. Kuzbari remained head of the ALM. He participated in the new elections and returned to parliament in October of that year. In February 1955 he was appointed minister of justice under Prime Minister Sabri al Asali and in September of that same year he became minister of education under Prime Minister Said al-Ghazzi. He kept that post until June, 1956. In May 1956 he became acting president of Damascus University. In 1958, under president Shukri al-Kuwatli
, Kuzbari took part, as a member of the government, in unification talks with Egypt
that resulted in the formation of the United Arab Republic
. He was politically inactive during the union and became President of the Syrian Lawyers Bar. Three years later he endorsed the coup in Syria that dissolved the UAR. One of the leading officers of that coup was Kuzbari's cousin, Haydar al-Kuzbari
, and the coup leaders asked Mamoun to form the first post-UAR government. He formed a cabinet consisting mainly of technocrats and university professors. He assumed in addition to his role as prime minister, the ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs and acted as president until his resignation in November 1961. His main objective was to re-establish an elected democratic government through a free and democratic election. Parliamentary election took place in December 1961. Kuzbari was elected again as a deputy in parliament and Speaker. Nazim al-Kudsi
became president. On March 28, 1962 both Kuzbari and Kudsi were arrested in an attempted coup by military strongman Abdul Karim al-Nehlawi, but were released when it failed. He remained speaker until September 12, 1962.
He represented Syria in the Non Aligned Movement Conferences in Bandung on 1955 and in several other international conferences.
before relocating to Morocco
. He taught at Rabat
, Casablanca and Marrakech Universities. He taught and published several books in Syria and Morocco in the interpretation of civil law. He actively participated in propagation of the Arab language in the Moroccan universities and courts. His books are used as reference in the Moroccan courts.
He moved to Lebanon
in 1996 when that country's civil war
ended. He died in Beirut
in 1998 and was buried in Damascus.
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
n literary personality, politician and acting head of state (September 29 - November 20, 1961) from a prominent Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
family.
Career
He studied International lawInternational law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
at the University of Lyon
University of Lyon
The University of Lyon , located in Lyon and Saint Etienne, France, is a center for higher education and research comprising 16 institutions of higher education...
's affiliate Saint Joseph University in Beirut and became an attorney in Damascus in 1943 and a professor at Damascus University in 1948. He entered parliament as an independent in 1953, allying himself with military strongman Adib al-Shishakli. He was elected Speaker of parliament and chairman of the Constitutional Assembly charged by Shishakli to amend the constitution. Shishakli also appointed him secretary general of the Arab Liberation Movement (ALM), Shishakli's political vehicle. He also managed the party's daily newspaper, Al Tahrir al Arabi ("The Arab Liberation"). After Shishakli was overthrown, Kuzbari in his position as Speaker, and according to the constitution, was declared acting President in an emergency session of parliament on February 25, 1954. He succeeded in avoiding military confrontation among the supporters and opponents of Shishakli within the Syrian army and called the former President Hashim al-Atassi
Hashim al-Atassi
Hashim Bay Khalid al-Atassi was a Syrian nationalist, statesman and its President from 1936 to 1939, 1949 to 1951, and 1954 to 1955.- Background and early career :...
, whose administration was interrupted by Shishakli's coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
in 1949, to come back to Damascus in order to complete his term. Kuzbari remained head of the ALM. He participated in the new elections and returned to parliament in October of that year. In February 1955 he was appointed minister of justice under Prime Minister Sabri al Asali and in September of that same year he became minister of education under Prime Minister Said al-Ghazzi. He kept that post until June, 1956. In May 1956 he became acting president of Damascus University. In 1958, under president Shukri al-Kuwatli
Shukri al-Kuwatli
Shukri al-Quwatli was the president of Syria from 1943 to 1949 and from 1955 to 1958.-Political life:He was born in Damascus into a Turkish family, originally from Konya....
, Kuzbari took part, as a member of the government, in unification talks with Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
that resulted in the formation of the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
. He was politically inactive during the union and became President of the Syrian Lawyers Bar. Three years later he endorsed the coup in Syria that dissolved the UAR. One of the leading officers of that coup was Kuzbari's cousin, Haydar al-Kuzbari
Haydar al-Kuzbari
Haydar al-Kuzbari was a Syrian military officer and member of "The revolution High commander of army and armed forces."Kuzbari is a son of well known family which owned lands in Damascus. Historically, the Kuzbari family were scientists and lands owners. Haydar's father is sheikh Yaseen...
, and the coup leaders asked Mamoun to form the first post-UAR government. He formed a cabinet consisting mainly of technocrats and university professors. He assumed in addition to his role as prime minister, the ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs and acted as president until his resignation in November 1961. His main objective was to re-establish an elected democratic government through a free and democratic election. Parliamentary election took place in December 1961. Kuzbari was elected again as a deputy in parliament and Speaker. Nazim al-Kudsi
Nazim al-Kudsi
Nazim al-Kudsi, also spelled "Koudsi", "al-Qudsi" or "al-Cudsi" , was a Syrian politician and head of state . He was born in and raised in Aleppo...
became president. On March 28, 1962 both Kuzbari and Kudsi were arrested in an attempted coup by military strongman Abdul Karim al-Nehlawi, but were released when it failed. He remained speaker until September 12, 1962.
He represented Syria in the Non Aligned Movement Conferences in Bandung on 1955 and in several other international conferences.
Exile and death
He was exiled after another coup on March 8, 1963 and settled for a short time in FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
before relocating to Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. He taught at Rabat
Rabat
Rabat , is the capital and third largest city of the Kingdom of Morocco with a population of approximately 650,000...
, Casablanca and Marrakech Universities. He taught and published several books in Syria and Morocco in the interpretation of civil law. He actively participated in propagation of the Arab language in the Moroccan universities and courts. His books are used as reference in the Moroccan courts.
He moved to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
in 1996 when that country's civil war
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
ended. He died in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
in 1998 and was buried in Damascus.