Ahali group
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Ahali Group الأهالي | |
|---|---|
| Leader | Ja'far Abu al-Timman |
| Founded | 1930-1958 |
| Split from | National Democratic Party National Union Party |
| Headquarters | Baghdad |
| Newspaper | al-Ahali, then Sawt al-Ahali |
| Ideology | Populism Iraqism Socialism Nonsectarianism |
| Political position | Left-wing |
The al-Ahali Group (Arabic: مجموعة الاهالي) was a political association formed in 1930 by a collection of non-sectarian, middle class Iraqi youth frustrated with the Iraqi monarchy. Although it was not an official party, it was a successor to the Watani (National) party and home to several important Iraqi Cabinet and Parliament members, including Ja'far Abu al-Timman, Hikmat Sulayman, Kamil Chadirji, and Mohammed Hadid. Perhaps more importantly, its history illustrated the often complex task of navigating reform in the ideological and socio-political climate that predominated under the monarchy. It transformed from a radical left youth organization, to a more moderate reformist group under the aforementioned senior politicians, to an unfortunate accomplice in the Bakr Sidqi coup, and finally dissolved in protest over said coup's brutality and disregard for reform.
The Ahali group was formed in the 1930s during a period of expanded education and, consequentially, the proliferation of youth and student political clubs.[1]: 73 It was formed by 'Abd al-Fattah Ibrahim and Mohammed Hadid, both law students whom had studied abroad and adopted socialism, and though the latter came from a wealthy Mosulite family most of its ranks were from an expanding middle class of youth with no hope of participating in formal politics.[2]: 70 Thus, although the group spoke much about political and economic reform, it initially saw this as springing from a new, more ethical and intellectual mass culture. It saw itself as a "school for the people,"[3] and focused on bringing about an expansion of civil society through pushes for enhanced democratic rights and something akin to British Fabian socialism—all based in non-sectarian cooperation.[1]: 59
Socialism and related ideologies had a negative stigma attached to them, so al-Ahali adopted the term Sha'biya (Populism) for their at times vague intellectual orientation.[4]: 116–123 In general, it emphasized equal rights regardless of social status (and democratic representational governance), welfare reform on a sort of collectivist model, and their growth from traditional institutions like family, religion, and patriotism. It condemned nationalism as imperialist.[2]
Because it could not participate directly in politics, the group initially turned its energies elsewhere—to newspapers and informal associations. Al-Ahali quickly grew to be one of the most respected papers in Iraq. However, it is important to note that despite its ostensible goal of educating Iraqis and home-growing a civil society the Ahali group was hindered by its intellectualist bent and the fact that it focused more on Western than indigenous culture.[1]: 79 Its first paper detailed the history of Western political thought from the Greeks to Russian revolution.[2]: 70 Members enjoyed equally astounding success organizationally. In September 1933 they formed the Association for Combatting Illiteracy and thereby converted individuals not only in Baghdad to their cause, but members from Basra, Nasiriyya, Kufa, Ba'qubah, and Hillah—that is, more "provincial" locales that were notoriously hard to access. This, they accomplished with the aid and aegis of Ja'far Abu al-Timman's assistance and blessing.[3]: 302
Political Turn
When Ahali's Baghdad Club was disbanded by the authorities, members became increasingly convicted that they could not continue as vulnerably as before. By dropping the term "Sha'biya" they were able to draw in politicians such as Kamil al-Chadirji whom had departed the Party of National Brotherhood either because they were too progressive, or because of disputes with the Yasin-Rashid regime, such as Hikmat Sulayman's. Given Ja'far Abu al-Timman's leadership it also signified something of a successor to his dissolved Watani Party.[2]: 72 These senior politicians formed an executive committee in March 1935, but elected to keep contacts with nonpolitical societies such as the Society to Combat Illiteracy, older politicians, and army officials through secret meetings rather than to form a political party. Inevitably, this broadening of Ahali's horizons entailed moderation of its ideology, which became, rather hazily, "reform" broadly construed. However, Communist and Sha'biya advocates remained active in the group.[2]: 73–74