Ottoman Party for Administrative Decentralization
Encyclopedia
The Ottoman Party for Administrative Decentralization or (Hizb al-lamarkaziyya al-idariyya al'Uthmani) (OPAD) was a political party in the Ottoman Empire
founded in January 1913. Based in Cairo
, OPAD called for the reform of the Ottoman provincial administration for Arab provinces rather than outright independence. The executive committee consisted of 14 members, all of whom were Syrian. Their religious affiliations were 8 Muslims, 5 Christians and one Druze. It was founded in part by future Prime Minister of Syria Haqqi al-Azm
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Most support for the party came from Syrian intellectuals and Muslims, though Christians were encouraged to join as well. The party was accused of being political propagandists affiliated with European imperialists.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
founded in January 1913. Based in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, OPAD called for the reform of the Ottoman provincial administration for Arab provinces rather than outright independence. The executive committee consisted of 14 members, all of whom were Syrian. Their religious affiliations were 8 Muslims, 5 Christians and one Druze. It was founded in part by future Prime Minister of Syria Haqqi al-Azm
Haqqi al-Azm
Haqqi al-Azm was a Syrian politician. He was active in the Ottoman government, and later served as the first prime minister in republican Syria.-Origins and early career:...
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Most support for the party came from Syrian intellectuals and Muslims, though Christians were encouraged to join as well. The party was accused of being political propagandists affiliated with European imperialists.