Word: imam
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...years the old (seventyish) Imam of Yemen has been as absolute a ruler as history records. In his feudal desert country, it took the Imam's personal signature to get a gasoline permit, authorize a $15 printing job, or order light bulbs for the palace. He clung to every trifle of power...
...last week he was signing nothing, not even orders for the beheading of his foes. The tough, ruffianly old Imam had moved out of his capital city of Taiz and established himself and his 40 women four miles away in the pleasure palace of Sala. The Imam was wasted by disease and wounds. Four months ago, the third assassination attempt this year left him dreadfully wounded. A string of foreign specialists have patched him up, but the Imam...
Into the seat of power moved the Imam's son, Seif el Islam el Badr, 35, a darkly handsome prince who has led Yemen a few steps out of isolation on a leftist course. Already Defense and Foreign Minister, Badr last week at his father's order became acting Prime Minister and Interior Minister as well. He also since 1955 has worn the title Crown Prince, a reward for saving his father from a revolt by his uncle Abdullah during one of the many and murderous family power struggles that are sprinkled through Yemen's history. Like...
...title of Crown Prince does not as sure Badr of succession. A new Imam is picked by the ulema (learned men) who live in the fortress city of Sana in the north of Yemen. They can choose any male of the royal family or any Yemenite directly descended from the Prophet, of whom there may be as many as 50,000 in Yemen. The ulema do not much like Badr, have refused requests by the Imam to ratify Badr's title. Left-leaning Prince Badr has cultivated the U.A.R.'s Gamal Abdel Nasser, and at his urging...
Only slightly less active than the Imam's friends have been the Imam's ene mies. Three weeks ago, a trusted bodyguard shot the old man down as he was visiting cronies in the Hodeida Hospital. Eight Italian surgeons were rushed from Rome, and the Imam's probable heir, ambitious Crown Prince Seif el Islam el Badr, 35, summoned all governors and deputy governors to confer with him in Hodeida. Since such meetings usually precede the election of a new Imam, many Yemenis were convinced that the Defend er of the Faith was dying. The prudent people...