Djemal Pasha the Butcher visited Jabal al-Arab in 1914 at the beginning of World War I to reach an agreement with its people so they would not target the Turkish army's supply lines via the railway passing through Daraa, extending to Palestine where the war front was located, after the Ottoman Empire had experienced the resolve and might of the Druze.
During his visit, he invited the leaders of the Mountain and presented medals to those who attended, and they were boastful and proud of them!! Sultan, however, did not attend, so the Butcher sent him a medal via one of his associates.
Upon receiving it, Sultan called his dog and hung the medal on its chest! Those who witnessed this were astonished and told him that this was an insult to the Ottoman Empire and that he might be held accountable for it. He replied without fear and with great pride and dignity: "The occupier's medals are hung on the chests of dogs, not on the chests of free men."
