Ahmad Izzat Pasha al-Abid

Ahmad Izzat Pasha al-Abid was a Syrian entrepreneur who became one of the most powerful statesmen during the last decade of Abdulhamid II's rule in the Ottoman Empire. He was born in Damascus to a wealthy and influential family. His father was a shareholder of the Suez Canal Company and a prominent administrator. Ahmad Izzat was educated in Beirut and spoke Arabic, French and Turkish. He moved to Istanbul and worked as a civil servant in the Ministry of Justice. He founded the first private newspaper in Damascus, Dimashq, which was loyal to the Ottoman regime but also advocated for a pro-Arab policy. He was introduced to Sultan Abdulhamid II in 1894 and became his second secretary and confidant. He had a great influence in the appointment of judges and officials in Syria. He supported the project of building a railway from Damascus to Medina, which was seen as a symbol of Ottoman unity and prestige. He also brought electricity to Damascus and established the Victoria Hotel, the largest and most luxurious hotel in Syria at the time. He also promoted the development of telegraphy and other modern amenities. He was granted the title of Pasha by the Sultan. He left the Ottoman Empire after the Young Turk Revolution in 1908 and moved to London, then to France and Switzerland. He later settled in Egypt, where he died in 1924. He was the father of Muhammad Ali Bay al-Abid, who became the first president of the mandatory Syrian Republic. He was also the uncle of Naziq al-Abid, a prominent feminist and nationalist activist. He was nicknamed Izzat Pasha the Arab by the Turks, as he was one of the few Arabs who reached a high position in the Ottoman administration. He was also known as Abidzade, meaning the son of Abid, which was his family name. He was considered a loyalist of the Sultan, but also a supporter of Arab interests and culture. He was a successful businessman and a visionary leader who contributed to the modernization and development of Syria.