How Turks lost Arab lands: Tale of betrayal, conflict

The loss of Arab lands by the Ottoman Empire began during the early 20th century with the rise of Turkification and pressure policies by the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP), commonly known as the Young Turks.

Their leader, Cemal Pasha, became the Governor of Syria in 1915, wielding extraordinary authority. However, his despotic rule would ultimately fuel the flames of rebellion.

Cemal Pasha’s despotic rule and Arab repression

Shakib Arslan, an Arab nationalist and CUP member, critiqued Cemal Pasha’s brutal actions, stating, “By making the despotic Cemal Pasha a governor, the government has ruined him, the Arabs, and the Turks.” The Pasha sought to intimidate Arabs, executing those he labeled as nationalists.

Along with political oppression, war-induced famine and hardship turned the Arab population against their Ottoman rulers.

Arab revolt: Turning point

The Arab Revolt of 1916 marked a critical shift. Arabs, already disillusioned with the Ottoman caliphate, saw the Young Turks as an oppressive force. The revolt was further fueled by British promises of autonomy and independence.

Sharif Hussein and his family were sincerely loyal to Sultan Abdulhamid II and the Ottoman dynasty. Sharif’s rebellion was not against the Sultan but against the Young Turks, who overthrew Abdulhamid II in 1909. He took up arms against the CUP regime in an effort to establish an independent Hashemite Islamic Empire. Moreover, many Arabs remained loyal to the Ottomans, as approximately 30% of the Turkish army during World War I was Arab.

Betrayal: British promises to multiple parties

The British, who had promised support to the Arab cause, were simultaneously negotiating with other powers. They pledged Palestine to the Zionists in exchange for wartime supplies, Syria to the French, and Arabia to Ibn Saud.

This duplicity infuriated even figures like T.E. Lawrence, who worked closely with the Bedouins and the British.

Fall of Arab lands

By 1917, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, and Iraq were all under threat. The Gallipoli campaign delayed British action, but by the time the British launched their attack from both the east and west, the Ottoman Empire’s grip on Arab lands was slipping.

The Young Turks had already given up hope of reclaiming these territories.

Sharif Hussein: Leader’s struggle for independence

Sharif Hussein’s efforts were not in vain, as the territories of Hejaz, Iraq, and Jordan were eventually established with his sons leading them. The British and French carved up the region, creating mandates in Palestine and Syria.

Despite initial British sympathy, the political landscape was shifting, and Hussein’s rebellion became a symbol of Arab independence.

Failed Ottoman proposal for Arab autonomy

In the wake of the empire’s defeat, the Ottoman government proposed granting broad autonomy to the occupied Arab lands under the caliph/sultan’s rule, similar to the status of Hungary in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire; and independence for Hejaz and Yemen tied to the caliphate.

In this way, it might have been possible to save the occupied lands and reorganize the empire. The Ottoman government wanted to maintain the unity of the Islamic world through the caliphate. Sultan Mehmed VI gave instructions in this direction to the delegation going to Moudros. Damat Ferid Pasha reiterated this proposal at the Paris peace conference.

This project did not please the Allied governments, especially England. The Allies had changed their plans for the future of the Ottoman Empire. Mustafa Kemal Pasha, having understood this from his meetings with British representatives during the war, never considered retaining the Arab provinces, even though many Turks lived there.

Legacy of the Arab revolt and flags of independence

The flags of the newly established Arab states were designed to reflect the 1916 revolt. Featuring the colors black, red, white, and green, they symbolized the struggle for independence.

These colors represented the Abbasid caliphate (black), Arab identity (red), Islam (green), and the quest for independence (white). The flags of Jordan, Iraq, and other countries still bear these symbols.

End of Ottoman rule in the Arab Lands

The loss of the Arab lands was a tragic consequence of internal policies and external betrayals. Despite the CUP’s initial intentions to retain control, the Arab Revolt, British promises, and the empire’s internal struggles led to the eventual collapse of Ottoman authority in the region. Today, the legacy of these events continues to shape the geopolitics of the Middle East.