This story is based on the autobiography of a Syrian businessman who witnessed the demise of the Ottoman Empire around World War I and the colonization of the Arab World by the British and French – events that led to many of today’s troubles in the Middle East.
His schooling was interrupted due to the start of WWI. He joined the railway system to avoid military service and was posted at a few railway stations across Syria. During that time, he worked with the Turkish military, was informed of the Armenian Genocide and heard of the Sykes-Picot Agreement which promised Zionists a homeland in the Arab world.
In 1924, he immigrated to Baghdad, where he started a successful business and befriended King Faisal of Iraq. He had to leave Iraq and move to Cairo, Egypt in 1936 for many reasons, which included a threat on his life.
His schooling was interrupted due to the start of WWI. He joined the railway system to avoid military service and was posted at a few railway stations across Syria. During that time, he worked with the Turkish military, was informed of the Armenian Genocide and heard of the Sykes-Picot Agreement which promised Zionists a homeland in the Arab world.
In 1924, he immigrated to Baghdad, where he started a successful business and befriended King Faisal of Iraq. He had to leave Iraq and move to Cairo, Egypt in 1936 for many reasons, which included a threat on his life.
