20 Facts About Ayyash Al-Haj

Ayyash Al-Haj Hussein Al-Jassim was a Syrian revolutionary who led the armed struggle against the French in Deir al-Zour Governorate in 1925 during the Great Syrian Revolt.

Ayyash Al-Haj was sent into exile to Jableh in western Syria with his family after they were convicted of planning and carrying out future rebellions against the French.

Ayyash Al-Haj was buried in Jableh in the cemetery of Sultan Ibrahim ibn Adham Mosque where the absent prayers held for the spirit of this martyr mujahid in all the Syrian cities.

Ayyash Al-haj grew up in a national family that contributed to the struggle against the Colonizers throughout history, Therefore, Ayyash liked his city and his homeland, and that is why he devoted most of his life to the service and protection of his city.

Ayyash Al-Haj formed a local government known as Haj Fadel Government with the dignitaries of Deir ez-Zor, headed by his cousin from the Abu Obaid clan, Fadel Al-Aboud in 1918.

Ayyash Al-Haj established a national army from the people of the city with Mr Omar Al-'Abd Al-'Aziz and Mr Khalaf Al-'Abd Al-Hamid to counter the invasion of the English and fought with them at the site of Salhiya in 1919.

Ayyash Al-Haj contributed to resolving many conflicts and revolutions between the people of Deir ez-Zor and the people of the countryside due to his good relations with the Baggara Tribes, his cousins and close friends of the Albu Saraya clan, who later participated with his sons in the formation of armed revolutionary groups against the French forces.

Ayyash Al-Haj was in constant contact with patriots and revolutionaries in all Syrian cities such as Dr Abdul Rahman Shahbandar, who agreed with him to start armed operations in Deir Ezzor city coinciding with the start of the Great Syrian Revolution in Jabal al-Arab and Ghouta of Damascus.

Ayyash Al-Haj founded a revolutionary group in Deir ez-Zor governorate that carried out several armed operations against the French forces, the most prominent of which was the epic battle of Ain Albu Juma.

Ayyash Al-Haj was an example of sacrifice, recorded great tournaments in the national struggle record to raise the national flag high, On 5 September 1925, Mahmud Al-Ayyash was executed along with 12 revolutionaries, The execution by the French military court was carried out by firing squad in northern Aleppo.

Ayyash Al-Haj founded the Cultural House Club in Deir Ezzor in 1944, where he gave his literary and historical lectures and invited most of the Euphrates intellectuals at that time, among the guests was the great poet Mohammed Al-Furati.

The club was closed during the era of President Hosni Al-Zaim in 1948, although it was owned by Mr Abdul Qader Al-Ayyash Al-Haj who covered its expenses with his own money.

Ayyash Al-Haj founded and headed the "Adiyat" Society in Deir Ezzor in 1958; Ayyash Al-Haj presided over the Supreme Council for the Welfare of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences in the United Arab Republic in 1961, where he continued fighting for the codification of the Euphrates Valley civilization.

Ayyash Al-Haj was a member of the Arab Writers Union, the Geographical Society, and the Scientific Research Society at Damascus University.

Ayyash Al-Haj founded the first museum in the city of Deir al-Zour in 1957 known as the Museum of Folk Traditions, the current Deir ez-Zor Museum still contains many archaeological collections of Mr Al-Ayyash, which he bought from his own money and Donated to the museum.

Ayyash Al-Haj died in Deir Ezzor in 1974 after he enriched the Arab Library with more than 117 books in the field of history, folklore and literature, President Hafez al-Assad described him in his condolence message sent to his relative as "Lost of the homeland".

Mohammed Al-Ayyash Al-Haj managed to form a revolutionary group of thirteen armed men who were ready to take any military action against the French forces, they were:.

Ayyash Al-Haj instructed his brother Mahmoud to set up an ambush in the area of Ain Albu Gomaa on the road to Deir Ezzor Al-Raqqa, where the highway runs through a profound valley and has a narrow stone bridge.

Revolutionaries were tried in Aleppo, where the family of Ayyash Al-Haj appointed lawyer Fathallah Al-Saqqal to defend them, the court heard head of the French intelligence in Deir Ezzor, who said: If each of the criminals, who committed this terrible offense deserve dying once, the gang leader Mohammed Al-Ayyash deserves hanging twice.

Muhammad Al-Ayyash Al-Haj was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment on the island of Arwad in Tartous city.