The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-04-10
Joan Of Syria
Makes War; On
Harens
BY BETTY ROSS


This freedom has reached the wom-
On of Syria. As a result they are re-
fusing to live in harems. and have only
3 fraction of their husbands attention
and affection. They regard men who
insist upon maintaining harems as de-
generates. The women nave gone one
step further-they are taking off their
harem wells which for centuries have
swathed them in modesty and submits
siveness and are facing the world with
open eyes and countenance. They want
economic and political equality and are
fighting for it."
Nine. Sayyada Sarah Shahbander,
who has just removed her own harem
veil after having lived her entire life
Of 30 years behind it, brings to Amer
ica this message from the Syrian wom-
en-, whose standard bearer and firm
eat champion she is.
Nine. Shahbander recently arrived in
this country with her husband, DIR.
Abdul Ruhman Shahbander, former min
lister of foreign affairs in Syria. She
IL known abroad at Syria's Joan of
Arc, and stands out as one of the great
est and most significant women lead
ers since the days of Cleopatra. Her
militaristic and political career classes
her at once with Queen Zenobia. Cleo
patra and Joan of Arc, and is as col
orful as that of her husband. who is
regarded as one of the foremost pro-
ponents of liberty and justice in Syria.
Twice condemned to the gallows,
which he cheated by his 81 day march
through the desert, subsisting only on
handfuls of olives and dates, DR.. Shah
bander was finally captured and thrown
into prison for 20 years. After serv-
ing 10 months, however, during which
time all Syria was in a protest revolt,
with fires and strikes, the French gov.
eminent released him to preserve the
peace of the state.
But the Oriental Joan of Arc does
not tell of her own war experiences,
how she organized the Turks, how she
led them into the face of the machine
guns, how she herself melted the up
rising which led to her husbands 20
year prison sentence and valiantly led
the forces tin his absence. She has
known every horror of war, from the
execution OF her uncle and brother, the
struggles with her four children in her
husbands years among the missing"
the death and Imprisonment and ban
tshment Of her gallant women leaders,
but passes lightly over them. She pre-
fers to talk of the independence of the
Syrian women for which she is now
striving.
I'VE want higher education for wom-
en- and co-educational colleges" she said
In hating French. at is hard to es-
tsblish co-educational systems because
we must break down traditions centu-
ries old. 1t is the same fight against
the harems, which we women want to
abolish completely by legislation. The
upper stratum of society is very much
against them. We women are ashamed
Of them, and all the educational pro.
grams we institute advocate monogamy.
'FHarem veils?" She looked at her
husband a bit wistfully. This is the
first time I've taken mine off. I like
Il. pretty we'll withoutV 1t. At first I
~as embarrassed. 1t seemed every one
was staring at my face. 1t seemed so
immodest."
will you ever 60 back to the veil"
] asked her.
Yes, as soon as get back to Syria.
Not because it signifies the submits
siveness of Oriental women but be-
cause I'm so used to it. Ny husband
prefers me with it. He thinks we look
more interesting and seductive behind
the veil. Men of the Orient always
want their women's attire to suggest