A champion of independence from France, he was arrested on 11 November 1943, and was imprisoned in Rashaïa castle, where he was held for eleven days, along with Bishara el-Khoury and Riad Al Solh, who were to become the first President and Prime Minister, respectively, of the new republic.
Sebagai pejuang kemerdekaan dari Prancis, ia ditangkap pada 11 November 1943, dan ditahan di istana Rashaïa, dimana ia jalani selama sebelas baru, bersama dengan Bishara el-Khoury dan Riad Al Solh, yang masing-masing kelak menjadi Presiden dan Perdana Menteri pertama, dari republik baru tersebut.