Kamil al-Husayni

Kamil al-Husayni (alternatively transliterated as Kamel al-Hussaini) (died 31 March 1921) was a Sunni Muslim religious leader of the Palestinian people and was the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem from 1908 until his death.

Al-Husayni was the son of Mohammed Tahir al-Husayni, the first Grand Mufti of Jerusalem. When his father died in 1908, Kamil succeeded him as Grand Mufti. Politically, his approach was much different than his father's, and he sought out compromise positions both with Jewish settlers and British authorities. The British appointed him as chairman of the Appeal Court during the British Mandate of Palestine and later as director of the Higher Waqf Committee.

During World War I, the Ottoman Empire claimed that al-Husayni should be removed as Grand Mufti because of his cooperation with the British and with Zionists. From 1914 to 1918, the Ottoman's claimed that As'ad Shuqeiri was the rightful Grand Mufti. Nevertheless, because the British were victorious over the Ottomans in the war, al-Husayni continued to act as Grand Mufti of Jerusalem until his death. He was succeeded by his brother Mohammad Amin al-Husayni.

References

*Zvi Elpeleg (1992, David Harvey, trans.). "The Grand Mufti : Haj Amin al-Hussaini, Founder of the Palestinian National Movement" (London: Frank Cass) ISBN 0714634328

External links

* [http://www.passia.org/palestine_facts/personalities/alpha_h.htm Palestinian Personalities: Al-Husseini, Kamel]