29th issue of Arab Revolt’s mouthpiece reprinted

AMMAN — The Jordan Times distributes on Monday the 29th issue of Al Qibla newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Great Arab Revolt. 

The newspaper dedicates its unsigned editorial to speak about the ultranationalist policies of the Turkish government led by the Union and Progress Party.

The paper highlights measures taken by Istanbul to eliminate the use of not only Arabic, but also the Ottoman language influenced by it and referring to the archaic Turanist language. 

The paper also refers to the Unionist rulers’ move to revive the old pagan religions of the Turks, among other steps taken to revive a pure Turkic culture to prevail across the dying Ottoman Empire.  

In a separate story on page 2 of the biweekly, Al Qibla runs a story about how soldiers in barracks were forced to recite old pagan prayers in praise of the Turkic race.  

The four-page paper, which stopped printing in 1924, includes in the issue at-a-glance news about developments in the revolt’s battles, WWI and daily life in the newly born Kingdom of Hijaz. 

The distribution of Al Qibla (1916-1924) by The Jordan Times and other local dailies is part of celebrations of the centennial of the Great Arab Revolt.