Qassem Al-Nasser facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Qassem Al-Nasser
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Nickname | Pasha |
| Born | 1925 |
| Died | 2007 (aged 81–82) |
|
Rank
|
Major General |
Script error: No such module "Check for conflicting parameters".
HE Major General Qassem Pasha Al-Nasser (1925–2007) was a brave Jordanian officer. He took part in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, fighting in important battles like Latrun and Bab El-wad.
Contents
Early Life of Qassem Al-Nasser
Qassem Al-Nasser was born in April 1925 in Idoun. This village is located in Irbid, north of Amman, in the country of Jordan. His father, Sheikh Mohammad Al-Mahmoud Al-Abdullah Al-Nasser Khasawneh, worked as a director for a farming credit company.
Qassem Al-Nasser went to primary and secondary school in Amman. Some of his teachers later became important leaders in Jordan. In 1943, he finished high school in Irbid. On September 22 of that same year, he joined the Jordanian Armed Forces. At that time, the army was known as the 'Arab Army'.
Qassem Al-Nasser in the 1948 War
Qassem Al-Nasser played a brave role in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. He was one of many Jordanian officers who were very loyal to their country. This loyalty made him fight with great courage during the war.
He took part in many battles, including Latrun, Bab El-wad, and Misherem. During these fights, he was badly hurt in the head. Even with the pain, he wrapped a scarf around his wound. He then managed to walk to a nearby hospital for medical help. He also helped train Palestinian soldiers in many cities.
Jordanian Officers Take Charge
Jordanian officers wanted to lead their own army. They were not happy that British officers held all the top positions in the Jordanian Armed Forces. So, they formed a group called the "Jordanian Free Officers Movement." Their main goal was to have Jordanian officers lead the army and to end a treaty with Britain.
Shaher Abu-Shahout was chosen as the president of this movement, and Qassem Al-Nasser became the vice-president. Many other Jordanian officers joined this group. They talked to King Hussein bin Talal about their goals. The King agreed with their ideas and supported them.
Because of their efforts, on March 1, 1956, King Hussein made a big announcement. He decided to remove Lieutenant General John Bagot Glubb, who was the British commander of the Jordanian army. King Hussein then told the Free Officers to make sure this change happened.
Time in Exile and Prison
After the Free Officers Movement achieved its goals, some countries felt their interests in Jordan were affected. They thought the movement might cause problems for the King. So, orders were given in 1957 to arrest the members of the movement.
However, since the officers were part of the army, some of them found out about the arrests. Qassem Al-Nasser and others managed to leave Jordan and go to Syria. Other officers were sent to Al-Jafer prison, which is in the desert south of Amman.
A special military court decided that Qassem Al-Nasser was guilty. He was sentenced to ten years in prison. Since he was not in Jordan, the sentence was changed to execution. Al-Nasser lived away from Jordan for over four years. His family was not allowed to visit him in Syria. So, he would secretly sneak back into Jordan to see his parents.
During one of these secret visits, he was arrested at a relative's house. He was sent to a Jordanian intelligence prison. He stayed there for sixteen months and thirteen days. In 1962, he was released because of a special pardon from the King.
Return to Public Service
When Qassem Al-Nasser was released, he had lost his Jordanian citizenship. But later, a government official returned his citizenship to him and other Free Officers. The official said that if they were not Jordanians, then who would be?
After this, Al-Nasser worked for a few years in a construction council. Then, a high-ranking officer asked him to return to the army. Wasfi al-Tal, who was the Prime Minister, helped Al-Nasser return to public service. He became the deputy director of the Public Security Directorate.
Later, King Hussein issued a royal order. He appointed Qassem Al-Nasser as the Director General of the Civil Defence Directorate. He held this important position with the rank of Major General. He continued in this role until he retired from military service. After retiring, he decided to focus on his own personal matters.
Death of Qassem Al-Nasser
Major General Qassem Pasha Al-Nasser passed away on October 4, 2007. He was 82 years old. A large and respectful funeral ceremony was held for him. A representative of King Abdullah II bin al-Hussein attended, along with many Jordanian people.
Major General Al-Nasser had six sons and four daughters: Sami, Mahmoud, Sameh, Kamal, Jamal, Mohammad Amin, Rania, Rula, Maha, and Lamya. He also had three brothers: Dr. Adnan, Brigadier General Adel, and Professor Marwan. Throughout his life, he worked hard for his people and his country. He dedicated his life to helping Jordan and the Arab world.
