Image Source:
Souraya Kabbara Library
Sami Kabbara (1903-1967) was born and raised in
Damascus. He studied political science at Montpellier University and returned
to Syria in 1932 to serve as secretary-general of parliament.
In the mid-1930s, Kabbara founded the al-Nidal newspaper,
a political daily that became famous for spearheading opposition to the regime
of President Shukri al-Quwatli from 1943 to 1949. In 1947, Kabbara was voted
into parliament on an independent ticket. His election was repeated in 1949 and
1954. In December 1949, he served on the Constitutional Assembly charged with
laying out a new constitution for Syria. When Quwatli was overthrown by a military
coup in 1949 Kabbara supported the change in leadership but refused to work
with the military regime of General Husni al-Za'im. He criticized Za'im's
dictatorship, leading to the closure of his newspaper. In August 1949, Kabbara
backed the coup that brought down the Zaim regime. He became minister of
justice and health in the cabinet of Prime Minister Hashem al-Atasi from August
to December 1949. He then became minister of interior under Prime Minister
Khaled al-Azm, holding office until June 1950. Azm then appointed Kabbara
minister of interior for a second time from March to August 1951.