On the birthday of Antoun Saadeh, a #thread on the life of Antoun Khalil Saadeh, the founder of the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party #SSNP, from his birth till his martyrdom. 
Antoun Khalil Saadeh Moujaes was born on the 1st of March of 1904 in Dhour El Choueir, Mount Lebanon, for Khalil Saadeh & Nayfeh Naseer Khneisser.
Antoun had 5 brothers & 1 sister:
- Arthur
- Ernest
- Edwar
- Charlie
- Grace
- Salim
(Picture of Saadeh's family, Cairo 1912)
Antoun had 5 brothers & 1 sister:
- Arthur
- Ernest
- Edwar
- Charlie
- Grace
- Salim
(Picture of Saadeh's family, Cairo 1912)
Khalil Saadeh, Antoun's father, was born in 1857 in Dhour El Choueir, he's the youngest son of "Sheikh Antoun"
He studied in the Elementary School of Abey(Founded in 1835 by American Christian missionaries).
After graduating he studied medicine in the Syrian Protestant College.
He studied in the Elementary School of Abey(Founded in 1835 by American Christian missionaries).
After graduating he studied medicine in the Syrian Protestant College.
Khalil Saadeh was deeply influenced by Butrus al-Bustani, the father of Syrian Nationalism.
Saadeh's first ever article, "The Lag & Progress of Our Country" was published in "The Jinan Journal" which was issued by Butrus al-Bustani himself.
Saadeh's first ever article, "The Lag & Progress of Our Country" was published in "The Jinan Journal" which was issued by Butrus al-Bustani himself.
Khalil Saadeh moved to Cairo in 1886, he there published an English linguistics book in 1886, & also published his first English novel "Emir Murad or the Syrian Prince" in 1893(which is today being mistakingly considered written by an unknown author).
Khalil Saadeh has also founded the "Central Assembly" in Cairo which played a secret role in demanding Arab self-rule inside the Ottoman state.
Saadeh had also strong relations with the Egyptian National Movement's leaders.
Saadeh had also strong relations with the Egyptian National Movement's leaders.
During his stay in Cairo Khalil Saadeh wrote medical & political articles in "Al-Ahram" newspaper between 1902-1903.
In 1905 he published his first Arabic novel "The Secrets of the Russian Revolution" about the circumstances that led to the Russian Revolution of 1905.
In 1905 he published his first Arabic novel "The Secrets of the Russian Revolution" about the circumstances that led to the Russian Revolution of 1905.
While writing articles for "al-Ahram" newspaper, Khalil Saadeh also wrote articles for "The Times" British newspaper.
Saadeh also published "Saadeh English Dictionary" in which Saadeh had created 100's of new scientific & technical terms.
He also translated Gospel of Barnabas.
Saadeh also published "Saadeh English Dictionary" in which Saadeh had created 100's of new scientific & technical terms.
He also translated Gospel of Barnabas.
Due to his nationalist & literary activities the Khedives informed Khalil Saadeh that his "stay in Egypt has become unwanted".
So in 1914 Khalil Saadeh immigrated to South America where he spent the last 20 years of his life.
So in 1914 Khalil Saadeh immigrated to South America where he spent the last 20 years of his life.
In Buenos Aires Khalil Saadeh issued "al-Majjala" magazine to serve nationalistic & scientific purposes.
Between 1914-1915 Khalil Saadeh wrote historic & political researchs for "The Standard" Magazine in English.
In 1915 he founded the Syrian Journalism Union in Argentina.
In 1919 Saadeh was invited to the first National Democratic Syrian Conference in Buenos Aires.
In 1915 he founded the Syrian Journalism Union in Argentina.
In 1919 Saadeh was invited to the first National Democratic Syrian Conference in Buenos Aires.
In 1919 Khalil Saadeh moved to to São Paulo, Brazil, where he settled & brought his family from Lebanon.
After a while he started publishing "Al-Jareeda" weekly newspaper & considered it a link between the Syrian(Levantine) diasporas & the homeland.
After a while he started publishing "Al-Jareeda" weekly newspaper & considered it a link between the Syrian(Levantine) diasporas & the homeland.
Also, it was Khalil Saadeh who called for the Syrian diaspora to donate money to build a statue for Yusuf al-'Azma, the Syrian minister of War who fought the French in Maysalun to death so that history does not write that Damascus fell without a fight.
Khalil Saadeh died on the evening of the 10th of April of 1934.
Khalil Saadeh's will to his son Antoun:
Khalil Saadeh's will to his son Antoun:
"She understood me better than everyone else"
Antoun Saadeh's mother, Nayfeh Naseer Khneisser was born in Dhour El Choueir before her family immigrated to the US where she lived & studied until she met Khalil Saadeh & married him.
Nayfeh died in Cairo in 1913, when Antoun was 9.
Antoun Saadeh's mother, Nayfeh Naseer Khneisser was born in Dhour El Choueir before her family immigrated to the US where she lived & studied until she met Khalil Saadeh & married him.
Nayfeh died in Cairo in 1913, when Antoun was 9.
Antoun Saadeh studied in Collège des Frères in Cairo until his mother died in 1913, after her death he went back home to live with his grandparents while his father went to Argentina to work.
Antoun Saadeh enrolled in Brummana school.
When Cemal Paşa visited Brummana, Antoun was "given the honour" of carrying the Ottoman flag, but when Cemal Paşa was visiting Antoun took down the flag & ripped it apart.
"I will not stand under the flag of a man who occupies my home"
When Cemal Paşa visited Brummana, Antoun was "given the honour" of carrying the Ottoman flag, but when Cemal Paşa was visiting Antoun took down the flag & ripped it apart.
"I will not stand under the flag of a man who occupies my home"
In 1919 Antoun Saadeh moved with his brothers to New Mexico, the US, to live with his uncle Suleiman Naseer, he workee there in a railway company until he went to Brazil in 1920 to live with his father & work with him in "al-Jareeda" weekly newspaper.
Antoun Saadeh's first nationalist article was published on the 4th of June of 1921, which was followed by 20 articles in the next 3 years regarding Syria, unity, the French occupation & nationalism.
Antoun was also the financial manager of his father's "al-Majjala" magazine.
Antoun was also the financial manager of his father's "al-Majjala" magazine.
In 1923 Antoun Saadeh started learning German after meeting an immigrant German family in Brazil.
In 1924 Saadeh wrote the very important article "The National cause" in which he highlighted the idea of the Syrian homeland & it's natural borders for the first time.
In 1924 Saadeh wrote the very important article "The National cause" in which he highlighted the idea of the Syrian homeland & it's natural borders for the first time.
In 1925, Antoun Saadeh founded "The Syrian National Association" in Sao Paulo which was a secret group of Syrians that was the core of "The Free Syrians Party" which was meant to stay secret until it reaches a 100 members.
On the 10th of August of 1926 Antoun Saadeh resigned from the "Star of Syria" Masonic lodge following his father, the lodge's president, resignation.
Antoun Saadeh later explained:
"You can't be both a Freemason & a Social-Nationalist, both creeds contradict eachother."
Antoun Saadeh later explained:
"You can't be both a Freemason & a Social-Nationalist, both creeds contradict eachother."
On July of 1930 Antoun Saadeh returned home to Syria from Brazil.
He spent that summer in his hometown Dhour El Choueir except a brief visit to Saydnaya for the "Nativity of Mary" day which inspired him to write 2 novels:
- Lady of Sydnaya
- The story of a love tragedy
He spent that summer in his hometown Dhour El Choueir except a brief visit to Saydnaya for the "Nativity of Mary" day which inspired him to write 2 novels:
- Lady of Sydnaya
- The story of a love tragedy
By 1930's October Antoun Saadeh moved to Damascus to join the political scene there & also join the National Bloc that was led by Ibrahim Hananu, & worked in their "Al-Yaum" newspaper.
"It's pathetic, they only care about politics with no social nor economic vision" Saadeh said.
"It's pathetic, they only care about politics with no social nor economic vision" Saadeh said.
In 1931 Antoun Saadeh returned to Beirut. There he taught German language for a living in the American University of Beirut.
He also built "al-Irzal"(cottage/hut) where he lived, studied, meditated & wrote the principles of what would become the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party.
He also built "al-Irzal"(cottage/hut) where he lived, studied, meditated & wrote the principles of what would become the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party.
On the 16th of November of 1932 Antoun Saadeh secretly founded the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party with:
- George Abdulmasih from Beit Mery
- Zaha'eldine Hammoud from Jordan
- Wadi' Talhouk from Sweida
- Jamil Sawaya from Dhour El Choueir
- Fouad Haddad from Beirut
- George Abdulmasih from Beit Mery
- Zaha'eldine Hammoud from Jordan
- Wadi' Talhouk from Sweida
- Jamil Sawaya from Dhour El Choueir
- Fouad Haddad from Beirut
In 1933 Antoun Saadeh started issuing "al-Majjala" magazine again to explain the principles of the Syrian Social-Nationalist Renaissance that he proposed. & on al-Majjala Saadeh introduced a new definition of "The Nation" derived from sociology rather than race or politics.
Around 1932 the symbol of the SSNP, the Whirlwind, was designed by comrade Bahij Maqdisi aided by the comrade/engineer Raja Khouli, it was Saadeh who named it "Azzawba'a(The Whirlwind)" after he saw the designs which were inspired by Syrian history & civilizations.
In June of 1935 & due to SSNP's rising popularity and spread, Antoun Saadeh organized the first public meeting of SSNP after working secretly underground for 3 years, during that meeting Saadeh gave his very famous speech.
antoun-saadeh.com/languages/en/8…
antoun-saadeh.com/languages/en/8…
On the 16th of November of 1935, and after the President of the American University of Beirut had reported the SSNP meeting to them, the French occupation authorities arrested Saadeh and SSNP members for "conspiring against the safety of the state & forming a secret association".
During his trial the judge called for "Antoine Saadeh" to stand up many times, but no answer, when Saadeh's lawyers said "the judge is calling for you", Saadeh said "I did not hear him say my name, I am Antoun Saadeh" & he only stood up when the judge said his name correctly.
During his trial, Antoun Saadeh was asked to speak in French to which Saadeh replied:
"Your honour, I am a Syrian in Syria, & I lead a liberation movement to establish absolute sovereignty, I will not speak any language other than mine" forcing the court to use an interpreter.
"Your honour, I am a Syrian in Syria, & I lead a liberation movement to establish absolute sovereignty, I will not speak any language other than mine" forcing the court to use an interpreter.
The French occupation's authorities sentenced Antoun Saadeh to 6 months of prison where Saadeh finished his book "The Genesis of Nations".
On the 12th of May of 1936 Antoun Saadeh was released from prison, SSNP members came from everywhere to gather & welcome Saadeh.
The popular reaction to Saadeh's release concerned the French occupation's authorities which made them arrest Saadeh again 49 days after releasing him
The popular reaction to Saadeh's release concerned the French occupation's authorities which made them arrest Saadeh again 49 days after releasing him
On June 30, 1936, security forces led by Prince Farid Shihab encircled Saadeh's house & broke into after a fight with SSNP members, Saadeh walked out & Shihab handed him the arrest warrant, with his charge being re-forming SSNP after the occupation authorities dissolved it.
Before being arrested, Saadeh went back to his room & wrote a decree forming a temporary supreme council to lead SSNP in his absence, under the presidency of Salah Labaki & it's members being:
- Naama Thabet
- Ma'mun Iyas
- Fawzi Bardawil
- Yousef Bahmadouni
- Naama Thabet
- Ma'mun Iyas
- Fawzi Bardawil
- Yousef Bahmadouni
On the 8th of July of 1936 #SSNP members filled the streets of Tripoli, Dhour El Choueir, Kfar Mechki, Koura & Achrafieh in the first ever SSNP demonstration to protest Saadeh's arrest by the French occupation's authorities.
The leader of the 1936' 8th of July protests, comrade Philippe Fares, handed the French occupation's authorities a petition saying:
During his imprisonment, after being arrested on the 30th of June 1936, Saadeh wrote SSNP's anthem & passed a paper with the anthem written on it telling his comrades "the anthem can be sang to the tunes of the Russian song Stenka Razin".
The #SSNP Anthem was later composed by the composer & singer Zaki Nassif, who joined SSNP in 1943. In addition to the party's anthem, Nassif composed the Youth Anthem, written by Ghassan Matar, & "My Homeland, Oh Twin of History"(Video below), written by Mohammad Yousef Hammoud.
During Saadeh's imprisonment SSNP members faced heavy persecution by the French occupation's authorities, from arrests to harassment(many members lost their jobs) not to mention the inspection campaigns in Matn, Beqaa, Damascus, Homs, Safita, Hama, Aleppo, Lattakia & more.
After Saadeh was released from prison on November the 16th of 1936 clashes happened between Maronite & Muslim parties, so Saadeh ordered 2 SSNP delegations to resolve the conflict & renounce sectarianism.
Between November of 1936 & March of 1937 Antoun Saadeh visited Tripoli, Safita(where he gave a historic speech in al-Maidan square infront of more than 5000 people), Marmarita, Mashta El Helu, Maten Arnouk, Tartus & Talkalakh.
In June 1938 Saadeh decided to leave the homeland after he was informed that the French occupation authorities intended on arresting him for a 4th time, this time for non-political fabricated accusations.
Immediately after Antoun Saadeh left Syria and entered Transjordan, the French occupation authorities raided the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party's headquarters, suspended the party's newspaper "An-Nahda" and issued a warrant against Saadeh.
In June of 1938, Saadeh traveled to Amman, where he met Abdullah I Bin Al-Hussein, Emir of Transjordan.
Saadeh speaks of that trip and meeting in a letter to comrade Fakhri Maalouf:
Saadeh speaks of that trip and meeting in a letter to comrade Fakhri Maalouf:
So the next morning, on the 21st of June of 1938, Antoun Saadeh left Transjordan and headed towards Haifa, where he met Syrian Social-Nationalist Party members there, and left to Cyprus the next day.
Saadeh speaks of that journey in the 2nd half of his letter to Fakhri Maa'louf:
Saadeh speaks of that journey in the 2nd half of his letter to Fakhri Maa'louf:
On the 28th of July of 1938 Antoun Saadeh arrived at Rome & met with the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party's members there and held many meetings with them.
Saadeh stayed in Rome for around 2 months.
Saadeh stayed in Rome for around 2 months.
Antoun Saadeh visited Berlin around the beggining of October of 1938, where he met Dr. Mansour Abdin Bey the Director of the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party's Directory of Berlin which was made up of Syrian, Palestinian and Lebanese students.
While in Berlin, Saadeh met the President of the German Youth Organizations, a number of officials in the Department of Near Eastern Affairs in the German Foreign Ministry and Alfred Rosenberg.
Saadeh later spoke about those meetings to Assad Ashqar while in Senegal:
Saadeh later spoke about those meetings to Assad Ashqar while in Senegal:
The meeting between Saadeh and Rosenberg and the intellectual discussion they had showed a deep disagreement between them, which the party members in Berlin, who organized the meeting, crisiticed Saadeh for.
Upon arriving in Brazil in October of 1938, Saadeh was accused of having a relation with Germany and Italy and was arrested by the Brazilian authorities.
Brazilian authorities released Saadeh a month later and refused handing him over to France after his innocence was proven.
Brazilian authorities released Saadeh a month later and refused handing him over to France after his innocence was proven.
After his release from prison, Antoun Saadeh worked on spreading the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party and founding Branches of the party in the diaspora.
Saadeh also founded the "New Syria" newspaper in Brazil, issuing it for the first time on the 11th of March of a 1939.
Saadeh also founded the "New Syria" newspaper in Brazil, issuing it for the first time on the 11th of March of a 1939.
Antoun Saadeh was accused of having relations with Italy and Germany and arrested again by the Brazilian authorities in March of 1939.
Saadeh's health worsened in prison, causing Saadeh to send a letter to the Assistant Director of Public Security:
Saadeh's health worsened in prison, causing Saadeh to send a letter to the Assistant Director of Public Security:
Soon after, Antoun Saadeh was released from prison. He left São Paulo on the 14th of May of 1939 and arrived at Argentina the next day.
By June of 1939 SSNP had 100 thousand members all over "Geographic Syria".
In 1939 Antoun Saadeh met and fell in love with Juliette El Mir, the daughter of Lebanese immigrants to Argentina, a nurse training to become a doctor, who had joined the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party a few months back along with her siblings George and Diana.
Antoun Saadeh and Juliette El Mir married in 1941, and later had 3 daughters, Safiyya, Elissar and Raghida.
(Picture is of Juliette El Mir and her and Antoun's 3 daughters years after his death)
(Picture is of Juliette El Mir and her and Antoun's 3 daughters years after his death)
During Antoun Saadeh's years in Argentina, the Syrian Social-Nationalist Party grew exponentially, becoming one of the biggest Syrian parties in the diaspora.
In 1942 Antoun Saadeh published his important research "The Intellectual Struggle in Syrian Literature".
In 1942 Antoun Saadeh published his important research "The Intellectual Struggle in Syrian Literature".
During his years in Argentina, Antoun Saadeh's health worsened due to the overload of work in the party and it's newspaper and the lack of help, to the point where he was hit by a car when he was carrying the mail to the post office by himself once in May of 1941.
Worth mentioning that during Antoun Saadeh self-imposed exile, the SSNP was led by Ni'mah Thabet for 10 years, many changes were done during his era, such as, for example, the changing of SSNP's flag.
(Picture is an approximation of SSNP's flag during Antoun Saadeh's exile)
(Picture is an approximation of SSNP's flag during Antoun Saadeh's exile)
After 8 years of living as an expatriate in Argentina, on the 2nd of March of 1947, Saadeh returned to his homeland in a historic eveny and was received by over 50 thousand Syrian Social-Nationalists from all over Syria who gathered in Beirut to welcome Saadeh.
Upon his return, Saadeh gave a historic speech infront of the crowds that welcomed him back home.
"We stand today, a living free victorious nation, victorious against the foreign wills that wanted our nation to remain torn apart between religious sects and creeds"
"We stand today, a living free victorious nation, victorious against the foreign wills that wanted our nation to remain torn apart between religious sects and creeds"
Less than 24 hours after his return, the Lebanese authorities accused Antoun Saadeh of "not recognising the Lebanese state in his speech" and issued an arrest warrant against him.
Saadeh sent a letter to the Director of Lebanese General Security denying the accusations:
Saadeh sent a letter to the Director of Lebanese General Security denying the accusations:
Due to SSNP's precautions, Antoun Saadeh avoided arrest, and hid in the mountains, from where he normally led SSNP and remained in contact with the public opinion, until the arrest warrant against him was cancelled on the 9th of November of 1947.
Another thing that is worth mentioning that Antoun Saadeh changed the name of his party, from the "Syrian Nationalist Party" to the "Syrian Social-Nationalist Party" AFTER his return to Lebanon in 1947, as a declaration of the party's recognition of the Lebanese state.
On the 13th of August of 1947 Antoun Saadeh kicked Ni'mah Thabet and Ma'moun Iyas out of SSNP due to "ideological treason", which was a conversational move at the time since Thabet was SSNP's President for nearly 10 years, who half of SSNP's members by 1947 joined SSNP under him.
Another major change that Antoun Saadeh did after his return from exile was clearly defining Natural Syria's borders, confirming Mesopotamia as part of Natural Syria after years of vagueness regarding Natural Syria's eastern borders.
In November of 1947 Antoun Saadeh came down from the mountains to SSNP's Leadership in Beirut, and declared a "State of General Alarm" as a response to the cold war that SSNP was facing.
Antoun Saadeh also gave his famous "10 Lectures", which founded the basis of SSNP's ideology
Antoun Saadeh also gave his famous "10 Lectures", which founded the basis of SSNP's ideology
After Antoun Saadeh's "10 Lectures", SSNP's membership increased dramatically.
Saadeh's initial goal was to find a center of influence in Lebanon and start to "preach and expand" Syrian Social-Nationalism to the region's states.
Saadeh's initial goal was to find a center of influence in Lebanon and start to "preach and expand" Syrian Social-Nationalism to the region's states.
As for SSNP's funding, the party relied completely on the membersship fees, and on the donations of members who live in the diaspora.
Antoun Saadeh had no income at the time and his family lived off of the money his wife's family sent from Argentina, which wasn't enough.
Antoun Saadeh had no income at the time and his family lived off of the money his wife's family sent from Argentina, which wasn't enough.
In 1948 Antoun Saadeh set off in a trip through the Syrian Republic, he visited Damascus, then Homa, then Hama(where Akram Hourani's expulsion from SSNP had created a tough situation), then Aleppo, where he also met delegations from Deir Ez-zor and Jazira.
After Aleppo, Antoun Saadeh visited Lattakia, then Bustan al-Basha(aka Bustan Saadeh) where he met Jamil Makhloufs amongst other local personalities, then visited Baniyas, then Tartus, then Safita and finally the village of Baamra, before returning to Lebanon.
Months before the 1948 Palestine war, SSNP attempted organising a large festival in Beirut in support of Palestine, but the Lebanese government prevented that from happening.
SSNP attempted participating in the 1948 Palestinian liberation war, and planned to contribute with as much fighters out of it's 100's of thousands of members as possible, but the Lebanese government refused arming the SSNP, preventing the party from participating in the war.
Despite the rejection of it's requests to participate in the 1948 Palestine war, SSNP still contributed with many fighters and martyrs, but Antoun Saadeh had given up on the help of the ruling forces, so he started building the core of a force which will liberate Palestine.
On the 6th of June of 1949, Saadeh was informed by a minister in the Lebanese government that the Prime Minister, Riad al-Solh, had decided, in a cabinet meeting, to "Chase Saadeh and his party, and exterminate the SSNP", and set the 12th of June as the date of the raids.
After being informed of the government's decision, Antoun Saadeh immediately sent Farid al-Sabbagh to contact Khalil Khoury, son of Bechara El Khoury, President of Lebanon, who contacted his father, whose response was "Al-Solh is excited to chase you, I can't do anything".
On the 9th of June of 1949, the fascist Kataeb party, then an ally of the Lebanese government's, attacked the printing house of SSNP's "The New Generation" newspaper in Gemmayze, Beirut, injuring a dozen SSNP members, who fought back against the fascist Phalangist militia.
The Lebanese government did not arrest anyone of the involved in the Gemmayze incident, and turned a blind eye to Kataeb's crime.
Instead of bringing the fascist Phalangist criminals to justice, the Lebanese government started arresting SSNP members.
Instead of bringing the fascist Phalangist criminals to justice, the Lebanese government started arresting SSNP members.
Antoun Saadeh ordered contact to be made with the Lebanese government to avoid a conflict.
Later that night, comrade Edmon Tobia phone-called Saadeh and informed him that Riad al-Solh is accusing him of calling for general mobilisation of his party and planning a coup.
Later that night, comrade Edmon Tobia phone-called Saadeh and informed him that Riad al-Solh is accusing him of calling for general mobilisation of his party and planning a coup.
Antoun Saadeh ordered comrade Najib Sayigh, an old friend of al-Solh's, to contact Riad al-Solh, and after 2 days of insensitive contact, the latter accepted to meet with Sayigh.
About that meeting, Sayigh said:
About that meeting, Sayigh said:
During a few days after the Gemmayze incident, the Lebanese authorities had arrested nearly 3000 members of the SSNP, and arrested a large number of the party's leaders, which greatly weakened and crippled the party.
Meanwhile Antoun Saadeh had secretly left Lebanon, and headed to Damascus, and started planning for a retaliation against the Lebanese government and their fascist allies.
While in Damascus Saadeh met the Syrian President Brigadier General Husni al-Zaim, who offered to help.
While in Damascus Saadeh met the Syrian President Brigadier General Husni al-Zaim, who offered to help.
On the 16th of June of 1949 "The First Syrian Social-Nationalis Revolution" was declared against the sectarian and tyrannical Lebanese government of Riad al-Solh.
The goals and objectives of the revolution(in English):
antoun-saadeh.com/languages/en/8…
The goals and objectives of the revolution(in English):
antoun-saadeh.com/languages/en/8…
As a response to the First Syrian Social-Nationalist Revolution, King Farouk of Egypt and King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud of Saudi Arabia worked on bringing the Syrian and Lebanese governments closer to suppress and end Antoun Saadeh's revolution.
And thus, despite all of SSNP's efforts, the alliance of the corrupt rulers and the fascist and sectarian states won the battle, but not the war, the First Syrian Social-Nationalist Revolution failed.
On the 6th of July of 1949, Syrian security forces arrested Antoun Khalil Saadeh and handed him over to the Lebanese security forces, who were ordered to murder Antoun Saadeh immediately, but Prince Farid Shihab, who was with the force that arrested Saadeh, refused the orders.
On the 7th of July of 1949, hours after his arrest, Antoun Saadeh was trialled a quick, brief, formal trial. The defense attorney was not given time to prepare, so Saadeh had to defend himself.
Saadeh's defense from the short movie "The Bishop Who Knew Him Talked To Me":
Saadeh's defense from the short movie "The Bishop Who Knew Him Talked To Me":
On the evening of the 7th of July of 1949, the court sentenced Antoun Khalil Saadeh to death.
On 03:20 A.M., on the dawn of the 8th of July of 1949, less than 24 hours after his arrest, Antoun Saadeh martyred.
On 03:20 A.M., on the dawn of the 8th of July of 1949, less than 24 hours after his arrest, Antoun Saadeh martyred.
Antoun Saadeh dedicated his life to his nation and homeland, fought for it's independence from the Ottomans, then the French, then fought the sectarian forces, and sacrificed his life during that fight.
Antoun Saadeh started a revolution, and the revolution lives on till today.
Antoun Saadeh started a revolution, and the revolution lives on till today.
End of thread.
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