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'Abd al-Ilah

'Abd al-Ilah

'Abd al-Ilah of Hejaz, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (Arabic: عبد الإله; also written Abdul Ilah or Abdullah; 14 November 1913 – 14 July 1958), was a first cousin and brother-in-law of King Ghazi of Iraq.[2] 'Abd al-Ilah served as regent for King Faisal II from 4 April 1939 to 23 May 1953, when Faisal came of age. He also held the title of Crown Prince of Iraq from 1943.[3]

'Abd al-Ilah was killed along with the rest of the Royal Family in the 14 July Revolution in 1958 that ended the Hashemite monarchy in Iraq. His body was mutilated, dragged across the streets of Baghdad, and eventually burnt.

'Abd al-Ilah of Hejaz
Crown Prince of Iraq
Regent of Iraq
Tenure4 April 1939 – 2 May 1953
MonarchFaisal II
Born14 November 1913
Ta'if, Hejaz
Died14 July 1958 (aged 44)
Baghdad, Iraq
SpouseMelek Khanum
Faiza Khanum
Hiyam Abdullah
HouseHouse of Hashem
FatherAli ibn Hussein
MotherNafissa Khanum
ReligionSunni Islam[1]

Biography

'Abd al-Ilah (holding hat) at Mount Vernon in 1945

'Abd al-Ilah (holding hat) at Mount Vernon in 1945

Son and heir of King Ali ibn Hussein of Hejaz, who was the elder brother of King Faisal I of Iraq, and brother of Aliya bint Ali. His family fled Hejaz, when Ibn Saud of Nejd usurped his father's authority.[3] 'Abd al-Ilah assumed power, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Iraq, upon King Ghazi's death in an automobile accident. He served as Regent for the underage King Faisal II.[3]

1941 Iraqi coup d'état

During World War II, Abdul Ilah was deposed briefly by former Prime Minister Rashid Ali al-Kaylani. Rashid Ali led a pro-German coup d'état during World War II against 'Abd al-Ilah's pro-British government. After he fled the country, 'Abd al-Ilah was replaced as Regent by Sherif Sharaf. Sherif Sharaf was an aging, holy-minded relative of Faisal II. The deposed Regent spent his time with former Prime Minister Nuri al-Said as a refugee in Amman. 'Abd al-Ilah was a guest of Abdullah, the Emir of Transjordan.[4]

On 2 May, the United Kingdom launched offensive actions against the Iraqi rebels. On 26 May, The New York Times newspaper reported that 'Abd al-Ilah had called for an uprising of tribal and religious leaders to help him overthrow the insurgent government. He appealed specifically to the Iraqi people, the army and the police to accomplish "this heavy task".

By 2 June, Rashid Ali's "National Defence Government" had collapsed and Rashid Ali had fled to Iran. 'Abd al-Ilah returned to Baghdad and was restored as Regent.[5]

Working in tandem with Nuri al-Said, 'Abd al-Ilah pursued a moderate nationalistic approach while maintaining close ties to the Allies.[3]

In 1942, Wendell Willkie traveled to Britain and the Middle East as President Franklin D. Roosevelt's personal representative. In Iraq, Abdul Ilah held a lavish state dinner attended by Willkie.[6]

In 1945, 'Abd al-Ilah visited the United States. He was the honoree at the first state dinner hosted by the new American First Lady, Bess Truman.[7] The Regent of "friendly Iraq" was awarded a Legion of Merit military decoration by President Harry S. Truman.[8]

In 1953, Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah stepped down when Faisal II came of age. But he continued to be a close adviser of the young King, and an advocate of a pro-Western foreign policy.

In 1955, Iraq adopted the Baghdad Pact (also known as the Central Treaty Organization, or CENTO). The other members of the organization were Iran, Pakistan, Turkey, and the United Kingdom. The organization's headquarters were initially located in Baghdad.

In May 1957, Saud of Saudi Arabia made an eight-day visit to Iraq. He was met on his arrival by Faisel II, 'Abd al-Ilah, and Prime Minister Nuri al-Said. It was the Saudi King's first ever visit to Iraq and it commemorated Iraq's membership in the Arab Federation and its break with the United Arab Republic of Gamal Abdel Nasser.[9]

14 July Revolution

Mutilated corpses of 'Abd al-Ilah (left) and Nuri al-Said (right)

Mutilated corpses of 'Abd al-Ilah (left) and Nuri al-Said (right)

During the 14 July Revolution, Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah was killed, along with most of the Royal Family. On 14 July 1958, a coup d'état led by Colonel Abd al-Karim Qasim toppled the government and brought an end to the Iraqi monarchy. The body of Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah was trailed on al Rashid street and was cut into pieces. According to the 21 July edition of Time magazine, Gamal Abdel Nasser's Middle East News Agency gleefully described the assassination of Crown Prince 'Abd al-Ilah: 'The people dragged 'Abd al-Ilah's body into the street like that of a dog and tore it limb from limb.' Then the mobs burned the body."[10]

Military ranks and Awards

'Abd al-Ilah held the following ranks:[11]

  • Field Marshal, Royal Iraqi Army

  • Marshal, Royal Iraqi Air Force

  • Honorary Marshal, Royal Air Force

He was awarded the Legion of Merit (Chief Commander) on 1 June 1945.

Ancestry

See also

  • Central Treaty Organization

  • Coup d'état of 1941

References

[1]
Citation Linkfindarticles.com"IRAQ – Resurgence In The Shiite World – Part 8 – Jordan & The Hashemite Factors". APS Diplomat Redrawing the Islamic Map. 2005.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[2]
Citation Linkwww.royalark.netThe Royal Ark
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[3]
Citation Linkarchive.org"'Abd al-Ilah". Encyclopædia Britannica. I: A-Ak - Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, Illinois: Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2010. p. 14. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[4]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Trouble in Paradise". TIME. 21 April 1941. Retrieved 15 July 2009.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[5]
Citation Linkopenlibrary.orgLyman, Robert (2006). Iraq 1941: The Battles for Basra, Habbaniya, Fallujah and Baghdad. Campaign. Oxford and New York: Osprey Publishing. p. 86. ISBN 1-84176-991-6.
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[6]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Points East". TIME. 28 September 1942. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
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[7]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Family at Home". TIME. 4 June 1945. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
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[8]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Talk & Ceremony". TIME. 11 June 1945. Retrieved 30 October 2009.
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[9]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Gathering of Kings". TIME. 25 May 1957. Retrieved 28 October 2009.
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[10]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Revolt in Baghdad". TIME. 21 July 1958. Retrieved 27 July 2009.
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[11]
Citation Link4dw.net"Al-Hashimi Dynasty". 4dw.net. Retrieved 15 September 2010.
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[12]
Citation Linkbooks.google.comKamal Salibi (15 December 1998). The Modern History of Jordan. I.B.Tauris. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
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[13]
Citation Linkwww.alhussein.jo"Family tree". alhussein.gov. 1 January 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2018.
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[14]
Citation Linkfindarticles.com"IRAQ – Resurgence In The Shiite World – Part 8 – Jordan & The Hashemite Factors"
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[15]
Citation Linkwww.royalark.netThe Royal Ark
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[16]
Citation Linkarchive.org"'Abd al-Ilah"
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[17]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Trouble in Paradise"
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[18]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Points East"
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM
[19]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Family at Home"
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[20]
Citation Linkwww.time.com"Talk & Ceremony"
Sep 23, 2019, 6:26 AM