Rushdi al-Kikhya
Rushdi al-Kikhya | |
|---|---|
رشدي الكيخيا | |
 Rushdi al-Kikhya in 1932 | |
| Speaker of the Parliament of Syria | |
| In office December 12, 1949 – June 23, 1951 | |
| Minister of Interior | |
| In office August 14, 1949 – December 12, 1949 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1899 Aleppo, Syria |
| Died | 14 March 1987 (aged 87–88) Nicosia, Cyprus |
| Party | People's Party, National Bloc |
| Education | Sorbonne University |
| Occupation | Politician |
Rushdi al-Kikhya (Arabic: رشدي الكيخيا; 1899 – 14 March 1987) was a Syrian political leader who founded the People's party in 1948. Kikhya was elected as a Speaker of the Parliament of Syria between 1949 and 1951, and he was elected five terms as a member of the Syrian Parliament (MP) (1936, 1943, 1947, 1949 and 1954). Kikhiya also served as minister of interior in 1949.
Career
Rushdi al-Kikhya was born and raised in Aleppo. His grandfather, Ahmed, was a member in the Chamber of Deputies.[1] He was educated at the Islamic College in Beirut,[1] followed by studying law at the Sorbonne in Paris, before his return to Syria in 1922.[2]
He later became a member in the National Bloc, and was elected to the Syrian Parliament in 1936.[1] In 1939, Kikhya clashed with the Bloc leadership, however, over their failure to prevent Turkey's annexation of the Sanjak of Alexandretta.[2]
Kikhya joined Nazem al-Qudsi, also from Aleppo, and campaigned against the election of Shukri al-Quwatli, the National Bloc candidate for the presidency in 1943.[2] In 1948, Kikhiya founded the People's party with Nazem al-Qudsi and Mustafa Bey Barmada.[3][4]
Kikhya supported the coup that ousted Husni al-Za'im in August 1949 and allied himself with Syria's new leader, President Hashim al-Atasi. Kikhya became minister of interior in a cabinet headed by Atasi himself that lasted from August to December 1949. Kikhya then became chairman of the Constitutional Assembly that drafted a new constitution for Syria. In September, he became a deputy for Aleppo and was elected speaker of the parliament.[2]
The leadership of the People's Party including Kikhya pushed to form a union with Iraq, to curb any future Israeli eastward expansion. However, Kikhya withdrew from the political life upon the formation of the United Arab Republic in 1958.[5]
He died on 14 March 1987 in Nicosia, Cyprus, and was buried there.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 رشدي الكيخيا (in Arabic). Damapedia.
- 1 2 3 4 Moubayed, Sami M. (2006). Steel & Silk: Men and Women who Shaped Syria 1900–2000. Cune Press. ISBN 978-1-885942-40-1.
- ↑ Rothe, Wenja (January 1972). "Hvorfor blive ved med at interessere sig for Rorschach prøven?: En kommentar og nogle overvejelser vedrørende førskolebørns Rorschachprøver". Nordisk Psykologi. 24 (4): 344–351. doi:10.1080/00291463.1972.11675812. ISSN 0029-1463.
- ↑ "Syrian History - People's Party founder Rushdi al-Kikhiya in 1958". www.syrianhistory.com. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ↑ Ghada Hashem Talhami (2001). "Syria and the Palestinians: The Clash of Nationalisms". University Press of Florida. p. 52.