Husayni (Arabic:الحسيني also spelledHusseini) is the name of a prominentPalestinian Arab clan formerly based inJerusalem, which claims descent fromHusayn ibn Ali (the son ofAli). The Husaynis follow theHanafi school ofSunni Islam, in contrast to theShafi school followed by most of the Arab Muslim population of Palestine.[1]
The Husaynis were a wealthy Yaman family that lived around the Jerusalem area in theLevant from the 18th century. Like most locals of the region, they tried to rebuild their lives following the devastation brought byNapoleon’s failed invasion of the Levant in 1799. However, by 1831 the ambitions of theKhediveMuhammad Ali Pasha grew so strong he invaded theLevant in defiance of the heavily weakenedOttoman Empire and imposed taxes so severe itcaused the local population to rebel.Over the years, the Husaynis became a major force in this rebellion which solidified a cooperative relationship with the returning Ottoman authority. By the mid-1860s, this trust put the Husaynis in a position of power when the ruling Ottomans decided to end the Feudal system. Taking advantage of the situation, the Husaynis forged an alliance with other Yaman Arabs such as the once powerful Sheikh Abu Ghosh. The leader of a noble family who had once held full control over the pilgrimage route from the coast to Jerusalem. As their influence grew and the power of previous ruling elites waned, feuds gradually occurred in the old city of Jerusalem between the Husaynis and the leading Qay Arab families of Jerusalem including the Al-Khalidi and the Nashashibi and Barghouthi families. However these conflicts dealt with city positions and not withQays–Yaman rivalry.[1] The Husaynis later led opposition and propaganda movements against theYoung Turks who controlled the Ottoman Empire.[1]
By the time of theBritish Mandate the clan had hundreds of members and its several branches encompassed thousands. They were mostly concentrated in theOld City, however a large number of clan members also lived in the neighborhoods ofSheikh Jarrah, theGerman Colony,Katamon,Baka andMusrara.[2] Several members of the clan were appointed to important political positions such asMayor andGrand Mufti of Jerusalem.Musa al-Husayni was mayor of Jerusalem, 1918–1920.Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni was Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, 1860s-1908, followed by his sonKamil al-Husayni, 1908–1921, and then another sonMohammad Amin al-Husayni, 1921–1937. The main political rivals for the clan was theNashashibi clan of Jerusalem, especially during the Mandate period. Before the formal commencement of the British Mandate, Musa and Amin al-Husayni incited the1920 Palestine riots, resulting in many deaths. As a result, Musa was replaced as mayor by the head of the rival Nashashibi clan.[citation needed]Amin al-Husayni andAref al-Aref were arrested, but when they were let out on bail they both escaped to Syria.[3][4] A military court sentenced Aminin absentia to 10 years imprisonment,[3] and he failed to qualify for a general amnesty in early 1921 because of his absence.
Unlike the Nashashibi clan, many Husayni clan members continued to lead opposition and propaganda movements against the British Mandate government and early Zionist immigrants.[1] The clan founded and led manyPalestinian Arab Islamist groups such as thePalestine Arab Party and theArab Higher Committee. The clan was directly involved in disturbances including the1920 Palestine riots and the1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine. As a result of continuing disturbances and violence, the Arab Higher Committee was outlawed in October 1937 and Arab national leaders were rounded up by the British. One member of the clan,Amin al-Husayni, escaped arrest by fleeing to Syria. DuringWorld War II he went to Iraq then Iran and eventually to Italy and eventually arrived in Berlin. In Berlin, Amin al-Husayni was photographed with many important Nazi leaders including Adolf Hitler and Amin al-Husayni went to the Balkans on behalf of the Nazis to give speeches to recruits of the13th Waffen SS division. Amin al-Husayni also broadcast pro-Axis statements into the Middle East on Nazi radio stations.
After the 1948 War, most of the clan relocated toJordan and theGulf States. Many family heads that remained in the Old City and the northern neighborhoods ofEast Jerusalem fled due to hostilities with the Israeli government. Amin al-Husayni was politically active from Cairo. In 1951King Abdullah was assassinated in Jerusalem by a member of an underground Palestinian organization led by Daoud al-Husayni.[citation needed]
Hatem Husseini (1940-1994) - Head of Palestinian Information Center in Washington DC, 1978–1982.
Hind al-Husayni (25 April 1916 – 13 September 1994) – former member ofPalestine National Council and founder of orphanage for Palestinian children. (Cousin of Abd al-Qadir al-Husayni).
Hussein al-Husayni (unknown-1918) – Mayor of Jerusalem (1910–1917). (Son of Salim al-Husayni, brother of Musa al-Husayni).
Kamil al-Husayni (23 February 1867 – 31 March 1921) – second Grand Mufti of Jerusalem (1908–1921, followed by his brother Mohammad Amin al-Husayni). (Son ofMohammed Taher al-Husayni; brother of Mohammad Amin al-Husayni).
Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni (1842–1908), full name: Mohammed Tahir Mustafa Tahir al-Husayni – Hanafi Mufti andQadi (Chief Justice) of Jerusalem (1860s–1908), followed by his son Kamil al-Husayni in the similar position ofGrand Mufti of Jerusalem).
Musa al-Husayni (1853–1934) – Mayor of Jerusalem (1918–1920) and Chairman of Palestinian Arab Action Committee. (Son of Salim al-Husayni, brother of Hussein al-Husayni).
Lena al-Husayni – Executive Director of theArab American Family Support Center. (Great-granddaughter of Aref al-Husayni, Sheikh of al-Haram al Sharif).
^abWasserstein, Bernard (1991),The British in Palestine: The Mandatory Government and the Arab-Jewish Conflict 1917-1929, Blackwell,ISBN0-631-17574-1.
^Eliezer Ṭauber (1994).The Formation of Modern Syria and Iraq. Routledge. pp. 95, 105.
^Hourani, Albert Habib, Philip S. Khoury, and Mary C. Wilson. (2005).The Modern Middle East: A Reader. London: I.B. Tauris.ISBN978-1-86064-963-9. p.537.
^Pappé, Ilan. (1994). The Making of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1947-51. London: I.B. Tauris.ISBN978-1-85043-819-9. p.65.
^Chomsky, Noam.Middle East Illusions: Including Peace in the Middle East? : Reflections on Justice and Nationhood. 1st pbk. ed. Lanham, Md: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2004, 68.
