Woman of history

One of the pioneering Syrian women who deserved the title of “The Princess of Arab Female Pioneers in the Twentieth Century.”

Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi, pioneer of the women’s movement in Syria and holder of the title “The Princess of Arab Female Pioneers in the Twentieth Century”. [1]

 this title is not granted by historical researchers unless the holder of this title has great and remarkable achievements.
At a time when women used to consider their right to education and decent life as a charity and not a right, a woman, who was not satisfied with taking her rights, appeared and fought to obtain the rights for as many women as possible.

Who is Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi?

Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi was born in Beirut in 1900 into a cultured family. [2]

She gained her share of societal interaction at a time that witnessed the Ottoman occupation in the last days of its glory and Turkish tyranny at its most intense.
During her upbringing in an educated family that respects intellect, she received her education at the German “Deaconess” Institute, and her Arabic language teacher was the scholar Sheikh Abdullah Al-Bustani. [2]

Adila got married to Prince Abd al-Qadir Al-Jazairi and lived in Damascus. [2]
She gave birth to two children; Amal and Zain al-Abidin. [3]
However, this did not stop Adila’s from resisting but rather strengthened it hoping that she would leave a better world for her children.

She resorted to the press and literature to fight against colonial attempts to obliterate the Arabic language, the Turkification and Francization attempts, and to resist all forms of oppression and violence. She wrote lines of the struggle against injustice and the deprivation of rights in general, and appealed for women’s rights in particular.

Not only did she struggle on a local level, but also expanded her work to include the Arab and international world, so that she became the destination of many fighters and pioneers of liberation with the aim of cooperation to achieve the unified goal.

Most important stages of Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi’s life

From a young age, she participated in the march towards the supreme goal. She rushed at the age of sixteen as a volunteer to serve the afflicted, providing them with food, medicine, and clothing. She became involved in a society exhausted by decadence and tyranny through secret societies calling for Arabism and independence. [3]

Adila got educated within a society that did not believe in the importance and necessity of women’s education at that time. Therefore, she co-founded the “Arab Women’s Awakening Society” alongside her fellow fighters in 1915. [2]

Their goal was to spread national and Arab feminist awareness and to demand the education of girls whose circumstances have stood in the way of their education. Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi wrote her articles in “Al-Fata Al-Arabi” and “Al-Mufeed” newspapers, and published them under the pseudonym “The Arab Girl”.

In 1916, she headed a committee supervising the House of Industry, which participated in providing free meals to about 1,800 female workers working in several industries such as weaving, spinning, and handicrafts.[3]
Then in 1920, as the situation escalated from the French occupation to the Maysaloon War, she concentrated all her efforts on demanding the complete independence of the Arab countries. Hence, Adila Bayhum supported the resistance using all the available means. 

She participated in many demonstrations and contributed to providing food, clothing, and treatment to the fighting revolutionaries. Despite the tyranny of occupation, mandate, and instability on all fronts, Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi did not neglect the rights of women – the oppressed party – and struggled during conflicts and victories to obtain women’s rights.

During the following years, with the help of her fellow female fighters, they established many associations and organizations, and opened schools. She gave seminars and participated in dialogues with activists and heads of other associations about allowing women to take their rightful place in society with all the entailed burdens, whether economic, military, or societal.

Among her most prominent works

She laid the cornerstone for the Arab Feminist Union and was elected its president, due to her mastery of the French and German languages. Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi demanded the right of Women’s suffrage and nomination.

She submitted a memorandum to President Gamal Abdel Nasser, demanding that women be trained in the military. She represented Syria on the UN Women’s Rights Committee more than once. [3]

The female activists who advocated for Adila in her case

That period of time was full of struggle and rush to obtain full rights, restore all lands, and liberate all detainees. Therefore, all the female fighters rushed in search of a way for their voices to be heard, and the most supportive of Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi in her struggle was her daughter, Amal Al-Jazairi. This is because she stood by her mother and was her companion, and even completed the course of struggle after her. Then there was, of course, Nazik al-Abid, the great female fighter who stood up against both the Ottoman and French occupations. Besides, the educated women of society such as Mrs. Badia Orfali, Jihan Al-Mawsili, Rima Kurd Ali Al-Azma, Suad Halabi, Olfat Idlebi, and many other female writers and fighters. [1]

The Recognition of her efforts

In 1975, Mrs. Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi has awarded the Syrian Order of Civil Merit – Excellent Class, in recognition of her work and struggle in the field of women’s rights and the renaissance of the local community. This coincided with the recognition of the International Women’s Year, but she passed away before receiving the medal. Thus, It was received on her behalf by her daughter and partner in social struggle, Mrs. Amal Al-Jazairi Hawash, during the great memorial ceremony.

That ceremony was held for her by the Women’s Union in the amphitheater of Damascus University On the occasion of 40 days after her death. [3]
In commemoration of Mrs. Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi, President Hafez Al-Assad instructed the New Girls High School to be named after her in the Al-Muhajireen neighborhood, next to her former residence. [2]

We, at the Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative, recognize the struggle and efforts of Adila Bayhum Al-Jazairi and her colleagues, and we hope these efforts will not be lost in vain. Therefore, through our platform, we seek to contribute to pushing the convoy and directing the path towards the goals set by their efforts.

Also Read: Julia Domna.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.

References:

[1] SWD

[2] Marefa

[3] Wikipedia

Is it possible for a Syrian woman to be the empress over Rome?
Yes, it is Julia Domna.

You may have heard this name by coincidence somewhere, do you know who she is? She is one of the symbols of women in Syrian history that is no less important than other queens such as Zenobia and an honourable image of Syrian women of all ages.
The Syrian woman has always been creative, inspiring, and perfect in everything she does, whether she is a wife or even a leader. So, how about if one woman performs all these roles?

Who is Julia Domna? When was she born? and where? 

Julia Domna was born into an ancient and noble family of masters in a city that inherits the priesthood of worship of the deity Elagabalus. Her father, Julius Bassianus, was the high priest of this cult in Homs and in the Roman Empire. The exact date of her birth is unknown. But it is likely to be between 166 and 170, in the city of Emisa, Homs in Syria. [1]

What about the private life of Julia Domna?

Septimius Severus, who had held many high positions in the Roman Empire, heard of a woman from Homs, whom it had been foretold that she would marry a king. This woman was Julia Domna, and thus she was betrothed to Septimus. While some accounts say that she was on a mission in the current region of Syria, and there he met Julia Domna and admired her, and then married her [2]

They had two sons, Caracalla (Qurat Allah) in 188 and Geta in 189 AD. The family moved between Syria, Lyon, Rome and then Carnuntum between 191-193 AD in Austria, east of Vienna, where the soldiers called for him to become Caesar. On the ninth of June of that year, he entered Rome, and Julia Domna received the title of “Augusta”. [1]

Also read: Woman of History: Asmahan.

Julia as Empress and the positions she held

Together with her powerful husband, Julia Domna established a dynasty within the Roman Empire that ruled for 42 years. Julia Domna had many titles such as “mother of the army camps”, and many other titles. She was even said to have held more titles than any other empress of Rome. This may be because her husband was not the only one of her immediate relatives who ruled the Roman Empire; her sister, Julia Maesa, was the grandmother of two emperors. [2]

In 208 AD, Julia Domna participated in her husband’s war against Britain, where she remained at the front line for three years, and attended the peace agreement signed in 211 AD. [3]
It is mentioned that she was highly educated and had a great interest in literature and philosophy by holding seminars for writers and philosophers in her palace. Among these writers was the writer Flavius Philostratus, who wrote a book – at the request of Julia Domna – on the life of the Neopythagorean philosopher Apollonius. [1] 
In the year 204, the Games, which was taking place only once every hundred and ten years, was held in Rome presided by Julia Domna.[3]

Julia Domna accompanied her husband in his battles in the East and was awarded the title of “Honourable Mother of the Camp” (mater castrorum). Although the commander Plautian tried to prevent her from achieving influence, she was able, with the help of her son Caracalla, to exercise her role as a ruler alongside her husband. But in the following years, the dispute escalated between her two sons, Caracalla and Geta, supposed to rule as joint emperors, according to their father’s wishes expressed in his will. [1]

Caracalla had the final word as he was the eldest. On January 11, 211 CE, Caracalla killed his brother Geta, who had invited him to a meeting of reconciliation. Gita perished in the arms of Julia Domna, who is injured while trying to protect him. For sure this incident left an effect not small on Julia Domna and affected her relationship with her son Caracalla. However, this did not change her position in the empire, as she was treated with the utmost respect and was responsible for the administrative affairs of the empire. As for Caracalla, he focused his efforts on the military battles.[1]
On April 8, 217 AD, her second son, Caracalla, was killed while he was in Edessa in eastern Syria. A guard killed him instigated by the Roman leader Macrinus, who became Caesar after him. [1]

How was the end of this special Empress?

There is not a single analysis regarding the end of Julia Domna, some say that she wanted to commit suicide by starvation. While another account says that the new emperor kept her entourage and her position in the empire, but she wanted to plot against him. So he punished her with death, but it is not known exactly how she died.[2]

The Syrian historian Dr Mahmoud al-Sayed, deputy manager of laboratories at the General Directorate of Antiquities and Museums, pointed out that he discovered in Syria many artefacts depicting Queen Julia Domna. Including a coin made of silver that dates between the second and third centuries AD. On one side of the coin was a portrait of Empress Julia Domna. The silver archaeological coin is currently preserved in Damascus National Museum. [3]

Our initiative takes great pride in all the pioneering women, in both past and present. We hope that the image of the Syrian woman will remain bright and inspiring, and a symbol that cannot be underestimated, of strength, science and culture.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.

References:

[1] Marefa

[2] Arabic Post

[3] SANA

The legend of the Arabic song Asmahan, is the soul whose earthly experience was not long, but whose voice remained a long-term memory. That voice which was and still is able to express what we hide in our hearts and the messages we carry in our minds has remained in order to remind us of the beauty, depth, and sophistication of the Arabic song.

A Glimpse Into the Life of Asmahan

Amal Fahd al-Atrash, Princess of Tarab, was born at sea and died by drowning. She was the only daughter who stayed alive in a family geographically dispersed in more than one country. Her family belongs to the Al-Atrash clan in Syria, among whom were men who played an important role in political life; such as Sultan Pasha Al-Atrash, the leader of the Syrian revolution against the French occupation. The family moved from Turkey to live in Syria, and during this journey, Asmahan was born on a ship in the Mediterranean.

The family settled in Jabal Al-Druze (Mount Al-Druze) in Syria until the outbreak of the Great Syrian Revolution and the prince joined the revolution. Her mother, Princess Alia Munther, was forced to leave Jabal al-Druze in Syria and travel with her children to Egypt. After the happy life that the family had in Jabal al-Druze, they suffered from misery and poverty in Egypt, which prompted the mother to work in monasteries and sing at private wedding parties to support and educate her three children. [1]

Asmahan’s Beginnings

Asmahan had no beginning, as she was created with a great voice; and its echo was deeply influential since her early childhood. She used to sing at home and at school, imitating Umm Kulthum and repeating the songs of Abdel Wahab and her brother Farid al-Atrash.

One day, her brother Farid received in their home the composer Dawood Hosni, one of the greatest musicians in Egypt, who overheard Asmahan’s voice while singing in her room. He insisted on seeing her immediately and asked her to sing again. He was impressed by the performance and said: “I was training a girl who was similar to you in beauty and voice, but she passed away before becoming famous, so I like to call you by her name Asmahan. [2]

Also read: Thuraya Al-Hafez.

Asmahan’s Achievements

Asmahan sang with her brother Farid in Mary Mansour’s Hall on Emad El Din Street, where she had previously experienced this with her mother at wedding parties and on local radio.
After that, she abandoned her musical career when she got married to her cousin, Prince Hassan Al-Atrash, who requested that when she moved to Syria. It did not take long for the Princess of Tarab to return to her musical career when she got divorced from her cousin, and then returned to Cairo.
The beauty of Asmahan and her great voice allowed her to enter the world of cinema. Her first movie was ‘Intisar Al-Shabab’ in 1941 with her brother Farid Al-Atrash, in which she sang “Eidy Fi Eidek Tssir” and many other songs.

After that, in 1944, she acted in her second and last movie, ‘Gharam W Intikam’, in which she recorded a collection of her most beautiful and most popular songs, such as: ‘Layali El-ons Fi Vienna’, in which she expressed, with the warmth of her voice, the magic of the moments that we enjoy in heaven when she sang ‘Loved ones are on both sides, What else remains for this to be the Heaven?’ She also sang ‘Emataa hataerif (When will you know?)’, ‘Ana Eli Estahel (I am the one who deserves)’, etc. Unfortunately, this film that presented us with Asmahan’s most beautiful songs marked the end of her life.

She recorded the song ‘Mahlaha Eishat El Falah’ in the movie ‘Yawm Saeid’, which was composed by Mohamed Abdel Wahab, who later recorded it with his voice. She also recorded the song ‘If Only Al Buraq Had an Eye’ in the movie ‘Laila Bint Al Sahraa’. Asmahan has sung with Mohamed Abdel Wahab in the operetta ‘Majnoun Laila’. She also sang many songs from Muhammad Al-Qasabji’s melodies, which are ‘Ya Toyor’, ‘Isqiniha’, ‘Kalema Ya Nur Al-Ain’, etc. [3]

Asmahan Series

Although her artistic career was not long, she remained present in the minds of the generations that came after her, as a television series on Asmahan’s life by Nabil Al-Maleh and directed by Tunisian director Shawki Al-Majri. The Syrian actress Sulaf Fawakherji played the role of Asmahan, Ahmed Shaker Abdel Latif as the role of Farid Al-Atrash, and Ward ALKhal as their mother. Some opinions were strongly opposed to the series, as it was considered to distort the biography of Asmahan and her image in the minds of her fans, and some of them considered the series to be close to the truth. [4]

Tales about Asmahan

There were some rumors about her work as a spy, but it is likely that she refused to continue performing the tasks assigned to her and retracted. It was also said that she loved extravagance, and she loved doing good as well.
Asmahan did not want to sing to earn money, but rather she sang for her sake, her mother’s sake, and the ones she loved. With her art, she was able to reach the feelings hidden in our chests, and her voice remained a legacy of the Arabic song.

♀️ Uplifting Syrian Women Initiative aims at sustainable peace building in Syria through targeting women and providing them with free online courses, workshops, discussion sessions and trainings, with a view to achieving the goals of Gender Equality, Quality Education and Decent Work and Economic Growth, which all fall into the interest of society as a whole and serve the purpose of rebuilding it.

References:

[1] ERTU

[2] Marefa

[3] Arageek

[4] Syrian Researcher