The First Jordanian Consul During the Emirate Era - Mr. Sameh Hijazi
Sameh Hijazi was appointed the first Jordanian Consul to the Republic of Iraq in Baghdad, which was the first Arab country to engage in diplomatic exchange with Jordan, from February to September 1941.
Mr. Sameh Mustafa Hijazi was born in 1898. He attended Sheikh Abu Al-Dabba' kuttabs to memorize the Holy Quran, then moved with his peers from Irbid to the Rushdiyya School on the eastern slope of the hill. Later, he joined his friends Mustafa Wahbi Al-Tal and Mohammed Subhi Abu Ghneimah at Maktab A’nbar in Damascus, considered one of the most prestigious educational institutes in the Levant during the Ottoman era. When the Syrian Congress, convened in the Damascus Municipality building on March 8, 1920 (17 Jumada Al-Thani, 1338 AH), declared the independence of Syria within its natural borders and proclaimed Prince Faisal bin Al-Hussein as King, Sameh Hijazi had just finished his studies at Maktab Anbar. He immediately joined the Arab government service as the Director of Correspondence in the Irbid district, then as the Director of the Ghor, Al-Ramtha, and Umm Qais districts. He later became the Qaim Maqam (district governor) of Tafilah, Ajloun, Madaba, and Jerash. In 1931, he was promoted to the position of Mutassarif (governor) of Karak for three years, then Mutassarif of Al-Balqa "Al-Salt," and subsequently Mutassarif of the Amman district. This period was marked by extensive travel and familiarity with various regions of the country, allowing him direct interaction with the Issues and concerns of its people.
In 1935, he transitioned from local governance to take on the role of Director of the Agricultural Bank, playing a key role in the agricultural advancement during the initial years of the Emirate. He held this position until 1937, at which point he was appointed Mayor of Amman, serving from May 1, 1937, to October 31, 1938. This period held special significance for him, given his father's long tenure as Mayor of Irbid. Now, as Mayor of the capital, he embarked on a path of comprehensive and innovative development, establishing a benchmark for the region.
Hijazi's career was characterized by frequent changes in positions. He served as the Director of Treasury for a time before returning to local governance as Mutassarif of Karak for the second time. His next step was a significant shift to the diplomatic corps in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In 1941, he became the Consul for the Emirate of East Jordan in Baghdad, making him the first to hold a diplomatic position in the Jordanian Foreign Service. In 1942, he returned to Amman, appointed as the Director-General of Public Education until 1944, when he was temporarily delegated to manage the General Directorate of Telegraph and Post while retaining his education director role. In 1945, he became the first Mayor of the capital Amman in the era of independence. His final public service position was as the Mayor of his birthplace, Irbid, from 1951 to 1954. Sameh Hijazi passed away in 1970 after a career marked by significant contributions on both the official and popular fronts.
Sameh Hijazi is remembered as one of the first to conduct an unofficial census of the inhabitants of Irbid, along with his childhood friends Mustafa Wahbi Al-Tal "Arar," Mohammed Subhi Abu Ghneimah, and Aref Al-Tal, all under the age of seventeen, showcasing their intelligence and talent. Despite his official duties, Hijazi remained committed to the principles of the Arab Nationalist Movement, striving for unity and freedom. In every position he held, he balanced his official responsibilities with the concerns of the nation and the Arab world, actively participating in national conferences and committees, particularly those supporting national causes and providing financial and military aid to Jordanian, Syrian, Palestinian, and Iraqi fighters, as well as other Arab nations suffering under occupation.
