16 Facts About Farhat Hached

Farhat Hached was a Tunisian labor unionist and activist who was assassinated by La Main Rouge, a French terrorist organization operated by French foreign intelligence.

Farhat Hached was one of the leaders of the pro-independence Tunisian national movement, along with Habib Bourguiba and Salah ben Youssef.

Farhat Hached's assassination is attributed to La Main Rouge, an armed organisation that favoured a French presence in Tunisia.

Farhat Hached was born at El Abassia on the Islands of Kerkennah, the son of Mohamed Hached, a sailor, and Hana Ben Romdhane.

Farhat Hached spent eight years at the village primary school in Kellabine which was run by a French head teacher.

Farhat Hached received his Certificate of Primary Education which might have opened the way to further education, but his father's death obliged him to abandon his studies and take on paid work.

Farhat Hached took on a range of union responsibilities locally and in the region and, later, in national administration, working with Albert Bouzanquet.

In 1943 Farhat Hached was recruited for government service which meant relocation to Sfax where he was able to resume his trades union activities.

Farhat Hached is a stocky man, who greets you with hand outstretched and laughing blue eyes, set in a round face of fair complexion.

In 1947, still aged only 32, Farhat Hached was unanimously elected as the first General Secretary of the UGTT.

The UGTT, directed by Farhat Hached, played a central role in triggering and choreographing episodes of unrest and in radicalising popular demands.

At the fourth congress of the UGTT, in March 1951, Farhat Hached provided an account of its achievements after five years under his leadership.

Farhat Hached was marked out because of the danger he represented to the colonial interests in Tunisia and across North Africa more generally.

Farhat Hached was followed by a car as he left Rades, the suburb of Tunis where he lived.

Farhat Hached sustained injuries to a shoulder and a hand, but was able to get out of his car.

Farhat Hached's body was transported on a boat from the little port of La Goulette to Kerkennah to be handed over to his family.