Flag of Syria
The flag of Syria (Arabic: علم سوريا) was re-adopted in 1980. The flag was formerly the flag of the United Arab Republic.
History
The first modern flag of Syria was adopted in 1920, and was similar to the current flag of Jordan with the green and white colours reversed. The colours and design were taken from the Pan-Arab flag and inspired by the flag of the Arab Revolt.
The French changed the flag of Syria under their mandate into a blue flag with a white crescent in the centre and a French flag in the canton. After a month the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-green flag with a French tricolour in the canton. This flag was in use from 1925 until 1936 (along with flags of several cantons into which Syria was divided under French colonial rule). Then the flag was changed into a horizontally striped green-white-black tricolour flag with three red five-pointed stars in the centre of the white stripe. This followed the signing of the Franco-Syrian treaty which gave Syria partial independence. The first national flag of Syria after independence in 1946 was this green-white-black flag with three red stars.
In 1958, Syria and Egypt merged to form the United Arab Republic, the flag of which was derived from the Arab Liberation Flag of the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 (a tricolour of horizontal red, white, and black bands). The flag of the union was distinguished from the original Arab Liberation Flag by two green stars in the white band, symbolizing the two component parts of the union. As of 1980, this is once again the flag of Syria.
When Syria withdrew from the union in 1961, Egypt maintained both the name and flag of the United Arab Republic, whereas Syria reverted briefly to its old green-white-black flag. However, the Ba'athist coup in 1963 led to the re-introduction of the Arab Liberation Flag, this time with three green stars in the white band, symbolising the hoped for union of Syria, Egypt, and Iraq. Iraq also adopted this flag at the same time, and maintained it (with certain modifications) until 2008.
In 1971, Syria joined with Egypt, and Libya to establish the Federation of Arab Republics. As such, the Arab Liberation Flag was modified again, with the insertion of the golden Hawk of Qureish replacing the three green stars. Additionally, the shade of the red band was made slightly lighter.
In 1980, the flag of the United Arab Republic flag was re-adopted.
Thus Syria has had six national flags (of four distinct designs) since independence in 1946.
The 1932 green-white-black tricolour flag has been used by many of the protesters during the 2011 Syrian uprising.[1][2][3][4] It is used by the Syrian National Council and Free Syrian Army.
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| 1922-1930, Syrian Federation and State of Syria |
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| 1930-1932, Syrian Federation and State of Syria[5] |
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| 1961-1963, Syrian Arab Republic |
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| 1963-1972, Syrian Arab Republic |
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Mandate of Syria
Each of the states in the French Mandate of Syria had its own flag. The Sanjak of Alexandretta, which was a part of Aleppo from 1920 to 1923 and then a part of the Alawite State from 1923 to 1938, did not have its own flag until it became independent as the State of Hatay.
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| 1920-1936, Alawite Territory, Alawite State, and Sanjak of Latakia |
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| 1924-1936, State of Souaida and Jebel Druze State |
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| 1938-1939, State of Hatay |
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Symbolism
The flag of Syria is derived from the Arab Liberation Flag, which uses a subset of the Pan-Arab colors in which green is less prominent. It shares this design with the related flags of Egypt, Iraq, Sudan, Yemen, and the 1969-1972 flag of Libya. The two stars represent Egypt and Syria, the two participating countries in the United Arab Republic.
References
- ^ "A member of Syrian opposition shouts slogans in Antalya". AFP. 2011-07-03. http://www.breitbart.com/image.php?id=iafpCNG.871d6ceaf93465b9db0644b930cabf59.701p0&show_article=1. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ Zeinab Mohamed (2011-04-26). "The old flag with the new revolutionary slogans". Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/96884693@N00/5658630887/in/set-72157626461386565. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ Adem Altan (2011-04-26). "Members of Syrian opposition kiss a former Syrian flag to protest against President Bashar al-Assad after their meetings in the Turkish coastal city of Antalya on June 2, 2011, aiming at a plan for the demise Bashar Assad.". AFP/Getty Images. http://www.gettyimages.at/detail/115092832/AFP. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ Adem Altan (2011-04-26). "Syrian opposition members and Turkish activists hold placards, posters and former Syrian flag as they demonstrate outside the Syrian embassy to condemn Syrian regime in Ankara on June 3, 2011.". AFP/Getty Images. http://www.gettyimages.at/detail/115096838/AFP. Retrieved 3 July 2011.
- ^ "Syria Flag 1930-32". http://www.syrianhistory.com/syrian-flag.
See also
External links
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1 Neither fully independent nor a recognized state.
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| National flags |
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| National coats of arms |
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