Great Arab Revolt transcended sectarian divisions — Prince Hassan

AMMAN — The Great Arab Revolt rose above sectarian divisions and helped entrench group loyalties and overcome their differences, HRH Prince Hassan said on Sunday.

In a lecture, at the Royal Geographical Society in London marking the centennial of the Great Arab Revolt, Prince Hassan urged future generations to safeguard the heritage of the revolt, which had pluralism, morality and politics as its top priorities, especially in light of the challenges facing West Asia and North Africa.

The prince reviewed the Hashemites’ main role in developing the Arab vision for the right to self determination, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

He stressed the “grave need” for a new way of thinking to deal with the many crises facing the Middle East and North Africa, noting that when the revolt erupted in 1916, it had clear goals.

The Great Arab Revolt, led by Sharif Hussein Bin Ali, His Majesty King Abdullah’s great grandfather, was aimed at establishing an independent and unified Arab state free from the control of the Ottoman Empire.

Quoting the Syrian poet Adonis, Prince Hassan said civilisation is about finding something new. He added that people who are no longer innovative become consumers of others’ products, stressing the need for new talents and ideas to create a creative Arab presence. 

The moderator, Rosemary Hollis, professor of Middle East policy studies and director of the Olive Tree Scholarship Programme at City University in London, commended Prince Hassan’s achievements, describing him as the defender of interfaith tolerance, a thinker and a passionate speaker who works to elevate Arab education.

Several diplomats and politicians attended the lecture, Petra said.