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Abdul Hamid Karami

Abdul Hamid Karami
عبد الحميد كرامي
Karami in 1939
2nd Prime Minister of Lebanon
In office
10 January 1945 – 20 August 1945
PresidentBechara El Khoury
Preceded byRiad Solh
Succeeded bySami Solh
Personal details
Born(1890-10-23)23 October 1890
Tripoli, Ottoman Empire
Died23 November 1950(1950-11-23) (aged 60)
Lebanon
NationalityLebanese

Abdul Hamid Karami (23 October 1890 – 23 November 1950) (Arabic: عبد الحميد كرامي) was a Lebanese political and religious leader, who had nationalistic Arab inclinations.[1]

Biography

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Karami descended from one of the most prominent Sunni Muslim families in Lebanon.[2] Members of his family traditionally held the position of mufti of Tripoli. Abdul Hamid Karami became mufti of Tripoli,[3] but was removed by the French authorities. He was a leader of the movement demanding Lebanon's independence, a goal which was achieved by 1943.[4] In 1944, Karami survived an assassination attempt, which was due to a local rivalry in Tripoli.[3] Karami served as prime minister and finance minister of Lebanon for a brief period from 10 January 1945 to 20 August 1945.[5] He also held the post of defense minister for that time.[6]

His sons, Rashid Karami and Omar Karami were also important Lebanese politicians who served as prime ministers.[7] Karami died on 3 November 1950.[4][8]

Controversy

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In June 1935, Karami killed Abdul Majid Muqaddam, another prominent Tripoli native, since Muqaddam had beaten him with a stick and knocked off his turban.[3] However, Karami was acquitted due to his claim of self-defense.[3] Karami's lawyer was future president Bishara Khoury.[1][3]

References

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  1. ^ a b Eyal Ziser (2000). Lebanon: The Challenge of Independence. I.B.Tauris. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-86064-537-2.
  2. ^ William Harris (2012). Lebanon: A History, 600-2011. Oxford University Press. p. 347. ISBN 978-0-19-518111-1.
  3. ^ a b c d e Oren Barak (2002). "Intra-communal and inter-communal dimensions of conflict and peace in Lebanon". International Journal of Middle East Studies. 34 (4): 619–644. doi:10.1017/S0020743802004026.
  4. ^ a b Rola el Husseini (2012). Pax Syriana: Elite Politics in Postwar Lebanon. Syracuse, NY: Syracuse University Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-8156-3304-4.
  5. ^ "Former Ministers". 18 December 2019. Archived from the original on 18 December 2019.
  6. ^ "الوزراء المتعاقبون على وزارة الدفاع الوطني" [Successive ministers of the Ministry of National Defense]. pcm.gov.lb (in Arabic). Government of Lebanon. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Karami back to lead Lebanese Government". China Daily. Beirut. 12 March 2005. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
  8. ^ "Developments of the Quarter: Comment and Chronology". The Middle East Journal. 5 (1): 83. Winter 1951. JSTOR 4322247.
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Political offices
Preceded by Prime Minister of Lebanon
1945 		Succeeded by