Said al-Shawa
Encyclopedia
Said al-Shawa (1868–October 1930) was a Palestinian Arab politician and the first mayor of Gaza
, reigning from 1906 to 1917. He was also one of the most influential members of the Supreme Muslim Council
from 1921 until his death. He was an opponent of British mandatory rule in Palestine, supporting the Ottoman
s during World War I
and the anti-British Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
, Amin al-Husayni.
and was awarded honorary decorations by the Ottoman authorities. His sympathy with the Ottomans during the war caused the victorious British Army
to depose him in 1917.
, al-Shawa was elected as one of the four members of the council's electoral college—the highest-ranking body. He was chosen to represent the Gaza, southern Palestine, and the District of Jerusalem from 1922 to 1929. By then, al-Shawa was a major landowner in Gaza, as well as Beersheba
, owning a total of roughly 50,000 dunam
s. The president of the Supreme Muslim Council, Amin al-Husayni, handed al-Shawa extensive powers in southern Palestine
to ensure his loyalty. In 1926–27, he took charge in the restoration of the Great Mosque of Gaza
after it was mostly destroyed by British bombardment during the World War. Al-Shawa died in 1930 and was replaced Muhi ad-Din 'Abd al-Shafi, a Muslim scholar
and opponent of al-Husayni.
Gaza
Gaza , also referred to as Gaza City, is a Palestinian city in the Gaza Strip, with a population of about 450,000, making it the largest city in the Palestinian territories.Inhabited since at least the 15th century BC,...
, reigning from 1906 to 1917. He was also one of the most influential members of the Supreme Muslim Council
Supreme Muslim Council
The Supreme Muslim Council was the highest body in charge of Muslim community affairs in Mandate Palestine under British control. It was established to create an advisory body composed of Muslims and Christians with whom the High Commissioner could consult...
from 1921 until his death. He was an opponent of British mandatory rule in Palestine, supporting the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
s during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and the anti-British Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
Grand Mufti of Jerusalem
The Grand Mufti of Jerusalem is the Sunni Muslim cleric in charge of Jerusalem's Islamic holy places, including the Al-Aqsa Mosque.-Ottoman era:...
, Amin al-Husayni.
Mayor of Gaza
Al-Shawa was born into the prominent Shawa family of Gaza, and his father Mohammed Khalil al-Shawa served as the chairman of the Municipality of Gaza when it was founded in 1893. Before entering politics, Sa'id was involved in a career as a grain exporter. In 1904, he was appointed a member of the municipal council and in 1906, he became the city's first mayor. During his reign as mayor he built a hospital, several mosques and schools in Gaza, and is credited with introducing the modern plow to the city in 1911. Al-Shawa developed close relationships with the Ottoman Army during World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and was awarded honorary decorations by the Ottoman authorities. His sympathy with the Ottomans during the war caused the victorious British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
to depose him in 1917.
Activity with Supreme Muslim Council
Al-Shawa represented Gaza at the 1st, 4th and 5th Palestinian National Congress held in 1919, 1920 and 1922. In 1921, shortly after the founding of the Supreme Muslim CouncilSupreme Muslim Council
The Supreme Muslim Council was the highest body in charge of Muslim community affairs in Mandate Palestine under British control. It was established to create an advisory body composed of Muslims and Christians with whom the High Commissioner could consult...
, al-Shawa was elected as one of the four members of the council's electoral college—the highest-ranking body. He was chosen to represent the Gaza, southern Palestine, and the District of Jerusalem from 1922 to 1929. By then, al-Shawa was a major landowner in Gaza, as well as Beersheba
Beersheba
Beersheba is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the seventh-largest city in Israel with a population of 194,300....
, owning a total of roughly 50,000 dunam
Dunam
A dunam or dönüm, dunum, donum, dynym, dulum was a non-SI unit of land area used in the Ottoman Empire and representing the amount of land that can be plowed in a day; its value varied from 900–2500 m²...
s. The president of the Supreme Muslim Council, Amin al-Husayni, handed al-Shawa extensive powers in southern Palestine
Palestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
to ensure his loyalty. In 1926–27, he took charge in the restoration of the Great Mosque of Gaza
Great Mosque of Gaza
The Great Mosque of Gaza also known as the Great Omari Mosque is the largest and oldest mosque in the Gaza Strip, located in Gaza's old city....
after it was mostly destroyed by British bombardment during the World War. Al-Shawa died in 1930 and was replaced Muhi ad-Din 'Abd al-Shafi, a Muslim scholar
Ulema
Ulama , also spelt ulema, refers to the educated class of Muslim legal scholars engaged in the several fields of Islamic studies. They are best known as the arbiters of shari‘a law...
and opponent of al-Husayni.