''Al Arz'' (Arabic: ''The Cedar'') was an Arabic language newspaper which was published in

Jounieh Jounieh ( ar, جونيه, or ''Juniya'', ) is a coastal city in Keserwan District, about north of Beirut, Lebanon. Since 2017, it has been the capital of Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate. Jounieh is known for its seaside resorts and bustling nightlife ...

Ottoman Lebanon The Ottoman Empire at least nominally ruled Mount Lebanon from its conquest in 1516 until the end of World War I in 1918. The Ottoman sultan, Selim I (1516–20), invaded Syria and Lebanon in 1516. The Ottomans, through the Maans, a great Dr ...

. It was in circulation between 1895 and 1916.

History and profile

''Al Arz'' was first published in October 1895. The paper was owned by Phillipe and Farid Al Khazin who were also editors. They started the paper shortly after the appointment of Phillipe Al Khazin as an honorary

dragoman A dragoman or Interpretation was an interpreter, translator, and official guide between Turkish-, Arabic-, and Persian-speaking countries and polities of the Middle East and European embassies, consulates, vice-consulates and trading posts. A ...

by the French consul. The headquarters of ''Al Arz'' was in

, and its publisher was Matbuat Al Arz (Arabic: The Cedars Press) owned by Al Khazin brothers. It was a mouthpiece of the Maronite community in Lebanon and supported Lebanese nationalism. The paper supported the autonomy of Lebanon and Al Khazin brothers published articles in ''Al Arz'' claiming that Lebanon had historical "sacred rights" which should be protected by France. Some editors of the paper were members of a secret group, the Lebanese Renaissance society, which supported the independence of Lebanon as a state. On 6 May 1916 both Phillipe and Farid Al Khazin were arrested and tried by the Ottoman authorities led by

Jamal Pasha Ahmed Djemal ( ota, احمد جمال پاشا, Ahmet Cemâl Paşa; 6 May 1872 – 21 July 1922), also known as Cemal Pasha, was an Ottoman military leader and one of the Three Pashas that ruled the Ottoman Empire during World War I. Djemal wa ...

, last Ottoman governor of Syria, due to their support for the French policies. They were beheaded for treachery in Beirut, and ''Al Arz'' was shut down.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Arz 1895 establishments in the Ottoman Empire 1916 disestablishments in the Ottoman Empire Arabic-language newspapers Defunct newspapers published in Lebanon Publications established in 1895 Publications disestablished in 1916 Phoenicianism