Beirut 1916: The Secret Execution of Syrian Nationalists

In 1916, as the Great Famine ravaged Mount Lebanon, Ottoman authorities hanged 21 Syrian and Lebanese nationalists in Beirut's Burj Square. This episode tells the story of those men — journalists, politicians, and intellectuals who had advocated for reform, autonomy, or independence from the Ottoman Empire. We focus on the two most prominent figures: Abdulkarim al-Khalil, a Shia landowner from Jabal Amil, and Shafiq al-Muayyad, a Damascene journalist. Their trial before a military tribunal, orchestrated by the ruthless Djemal Pasha, was a show trial meant to crush the Arab nationalist movement. We explore the evidence, the verdict, and the aftermath, including how these executions galvanized the Arab Revolt and shaped Lebanon's modern political memory. The episode also touches on the role of the French Consul, the silence of the Maronite Patriarch, and the long shadow these martyrdoms cast on Lebanese identity.

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