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Abdallah Yafi

Abdallah El-Yafi
عبد الله اليافي
Abdallah El-Yafi.jpg
9th Prime Minister of Lebanon
In office
24 October 1938 – 21 September 1939
President Émile Eddé
Preceded by Khaled Chehab
Succeeded by Abdullah Beyhum
In office
7 April 1951 – 11 February 1952
President Bechara El Khoury
Preceded by Hussein Al Oweini
Succeeded by Sami Solh
In office
24 September 1952 – 30 September 1952
President Camille Chamoun
Preceded by Saeb Salam
Succeeded by Khaled Chehab
In office
1 May 1953 – 16 August 1953
President Camille Chamoun
Preceded by Saeb Salam
Succeeded by Sami Solh
In office
20 March 1956 – 18 November 1956
President Fuad Chehab
Preceded by Rachid Karami
Succeeded by Sami Solh
In office
9 April 1966 – 2 December 1966
President Camille Chamoun
Preceded by Rachid Karami
Succeeded by Rachid Karami
In office
8 February 1968 – 15 January 1969
President Charles Helou
Preceded by Rachid Karami
Succeeded by Rachid Karami
Personal details
Born 7 September 1901
Beirut, Lebanon
Died 4 November 1986(1986-11-04) (aged 85)
Beirut, Lebanon
Nationality Lebanese
Political party Independent
Spouse(s) Hind El-Azm
Occupation Lawyer
Religion Islam

Abdallah El-Yafi (Arabic: عبد الله اليافي‎‎ - also transliterated as Abdallah Yafi, Abdallah Bey Aref el-Yafi and other variants; 7 September 1901 – 4 November 1986) was the Prime Minister of Lebanon serving 7 times between 1938 and 1969.

Known for his rigorous integrity and his political impartiality, Abdallah Yafi is considered to be one of the most popular politicians in Lebanese 20th century history. His ethical behavior in public service is cited as an example in the official civic education high-school textbooks as well as in the graduation of law students.

El-Yafi was at the forefront of the struggle to give women the right to vote, which he was able to achieve with his cabinet in power in 1952.

Abdallah El-Yafi was born in Beirut, Lebanon on 7 September 1901 into a Sunni Muslim family to parents Aref El-Yafi and Jamila Ostwani, a Damascene. Raised with two brothers, he first attended Sheikh Abbas School, a Muslim elementary school, then "Pères Jésuites" (Jesuit Fathers), a Roman Catholic school, and went on to earn his French Baccalaureate Degree. He pursued his advanced studies in law at the "Pères Jésuites" and earned a Juris Doctor.

In 1923, Abdallah El-Yafi enrolled in a PhD program at La Sorbonne University in Paris, France from which he graduated in 1926. El-Yafi's political involvement lasted throughout his school years. He was President of the Arab Students Association, (French: Président de l'Association des étudiants Arabes) and was militating in France against the French Mandate which was then in place in Lebanon. He was known for organizing political demonstrations and giving fiery speeches, which once led to his arrest by the French Authorities only to be released a couple of days later.

Abdallah El-Yafi is the first Arab to receive a PhD from the Sorbonne University, where he wrote his thesis about women’s rights in Islam. The thesis subject was "The Legal Status of Women in the Law of Islam" (French: La Condition Privée de la Femme dans le Droit de l'Islam). Drawing from Quranic decrees and Islamic principles, he made a case about how women are supposed to be allotted more rights in society.


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