Kazem el-Solh

1904 - 1976

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1904

Born: 1904, in Beirut

Kazem had 3 brothers and 4 sisters. He attended the Ahmad Abbas Ashari School then the preparatory school of the International College in Beirut. He studied at the Jesuit School, also in Beirut, before graduating with a law degree from the University of Damascus.

1930

He was a founder and owner of the daily newspaper An-Nida (The Appeal) in Beirut in 1930, to which his brothers contributed articles. The paper ceased being published in 1940

An-Nida newspaper

An-Nida newspaper (french version)

1934

He married his first cousin Yesser Kamel el Solh. They had 4 children: Hannah, Khaldoun, Nawal & Raghid

1935
Political activists set up a number of underground groups in the 1920s & 30s to fight for Arab independence from European powers. Kazem was a founding member of the Red Book secret society. He also established an Arab Nationalist Party in 1935.

1936

He wrote a paper during the Coastal Conference, published later, which was the precursor to the National Pact, promoting Lebanese coexistence. His paper is generally recognised as a foundation of the Lebanese Constitution and it’s citizen’s charter

1943-47

He set up a law practice in downtown Beirut and in 1944-60 he formed a political party called Al-Nida, together with other prominent intellectuals and his brother Takieddine el-Solh
1947 - 1960
He served as the Lebanese Ambassador to Iraq from 1947 to 1960, leaving Iraq a year after the coup ousting the Hashemite monarchy

Kazem greeting Bechara el Khoury

Kazem and Saud bin Abdulaziz al Saud
1960 - 1964
In 1960-64 he was elected to parliament as an MP representing Zahle. He was also the head of the parliamentary foreign affairs committee. He was nominated for the position of PM but as he was not a Nasserist he did not gain full support

Candidate for belief & dignity

Kazem with the Mufti of Jerusalem Haj Amin al-Husseini

Kazem meeting King Hussein of Jordan

Kazem with the King of Iraq Faisal II

Kazem with King Mohammad V of Morocco

Kazem with Camille Chamoun