Huda Shaarawi, the Egyptian nationalist movement, and womens rights

Amina Wadud on her process of deciding to lead a public mixed-gender prayer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_flQbtI1U4  

Part Four: A Wife in the Harem: 1900-1918 Reconciliation Trip to Paris together p. 84: On how much Huda likes Paris: “The French… grow up familiar with their past because of the monuments raised to honor those who have died for the freedom and independence of their country.” After returning to husband, “overwhelmed with his consideration and respect.” She jumps right into her motherly role, giving birth to a son and a daughter. How does she describe motherhood? Her summer in Turkey: she reconnects with her childhood freedom and happiness again. The fruit trees in the garden.

New Public Lectures for (and by)Women After Mme Rushdi passes away, Marguerite Clement, another Frenchwoman, arrives in Egypt and encourages Huda to help organize lectures for Egyptian women. Huda asks her to talk and “compare the lives of oriental women and western women and talk about social practices such as veiling.” 93 The lectures become sponsored by Princess Ain al-Hayat and supported by Prince Ahmad Fuad, who orders a hall for the lectures to be reserved at the university every Friday. 94: Why did Huda not support the dispensary established by Lady Cromer? Princess Ain al-Hayat’s plan for a dispensary. Huda takes it on as her own cause after her death. It opens as Mabarat Muhammad Ali.

Beginnings of Organized Womens Groups In April 1914, the Intellectual Association of Egyptian Women was born. Marguerite Clement comes from France to give another lecture series.  100: However, “we dared not call [our society] a club (nadi), as our traditions would not allow it. At that time it was still not acceptable for women to have a place of their own outside private houses.” 110: Ends with family tension between Huda and her husband, but a reorientation in her life: “I would have separated from my husband because of Hasan, if it had not been for the nationalist movement. My attention was drawn from my private life to serving my country.” 112: “The final years in Huda’s memoirs, from 1919-1924, were highly charged. Both women and men fought for national liberation. It was up to women to initiate the fight for their own liberation. This epilogue tells the story of women’s dual struggle as reflected in Huda’s memoirs.”

Political Alliances During WWI Ottoman Empire enters the war on the German side Germany present itself as a true friend of Muslims and even hinted that the Kaiser was a Muslim Ottomans encourage a pan-Islamist discourse to rally the support of Arab communities of the Empire In response, Britain promises Arab leaders independence if Arabs rebel against Ottoman rule and support the Allied Forces However, in private Britain and France divide up Arabia, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, and Lebanon in the Sykes-Picot Agreement, continuing colonial rule and betraying those countries’ wartime help The Russian Revolution of 1917: Bolshevik Russia pulls out of the war and the contest over the ME Defeat and surrender of Ottoman Empire and Germany 1918 The West and in particular Britain remain in control of most of ME The years 1914-1956 are known as “The British moment in the ME” Historically speaking, this is a relatively short time; it has great ramifications

1919 Egyptian Revolution Post-WWI sees a revival of Egyptian nationalism Saad Zaqlul emerges as leader of the nationalist movement Bio: son of a wealthy farmer, educated at al-Azhar, influenced by al-Afghani, editor of government journal, supporter of the 1884 Urabi Revolt Lord Cromer appointed him Minister of Education but Zaqlul soon left government work as a result of conflict with British administration of Egypt In 1918, Saad and colleagues announce intention to form a delegation (in Arabic Wafd) to go to London to argue for independence. But they are ignored by the British When Saad and colleagues declare independence, the British exile Saad to Malta. As a result, a popular uprising of students, teachers, lawyers, judges, government employees, transport workers, in support of Wafd emerges. All go on strike. Even elite women take to the streets. The new slogan is “Egypt for Egyptians.” A new national flag develops with Christian and Muslim symbols combined. The British modify their position, release Saad, and change their local administration in reaction to this.

1919 Paris Peace Conference: given President Woodrow Wilson’s support of rights of nations (following Lenin’s declaration of support for self-determination of nations) Egyptians also vote for self-determination. But independence for Egypt is not on the European agenda, and the US even recognizes the British protectorate over Egypt. The pleas of Zaqlul and his supporters at the conference are ignored, as Europe redraws the map of the ME and Europe. In the months that follow, Britain attempts to end the protectorate, but still maintain some control through a new Anglo-Egyptian Treaty. Zaqlul refuses to go along, and in this is backed by the Sultan and the Wafd. Meanwhile, large-scale strikes and assassinations of some British officials continue. Britain wants to maintain control over the Suez Canal, over the port of Alexandria, over all vital means of communication and transportation (radio, telegraph, railroad and airport). Egypt witness a typical decolonization problem that repeats itself in the region over and over.

British General Allenby comes up with a solution British General Allenby comes up with a solution. England grants formal independence to Egypt in Feb 1922, but maintains the following: Protection over means of communication Defense against foreign aggression (military control) Protection of foreign interests and Egyptian minorities of the country (judicial control) Control of the Sudan Wafd reluctantly agrees and in 1922 the protectorate is replaced by a unilateral Brtitish declaration of independence for Egypt. Egypt now embarks upon a limited experience of democracy. A new constitution modeled on that of Belgium is written. All Egyptians are equal before the law, but electoral laws grant suffrage only to men. After WWI, the Russian Revolution, and rise of Communism in the region, Britain began to follow a more “accommodating” policy in the ME. This meant accepting modernist nationalist leaders in Iran and Turkey and a gradual move towards soft rule in Iraq and Palestine. 1923: Egyptians hold free elections. Wafd becomes a new political party with a majority in parliament. Zaqlul becomes PM, appointing Wafd ministers.

Egypt’s long-fought Independence New independence agreement with Britain in 1936: Britain received right to maintain large military base to defend the Suez Canal, plus bases in Cairo and Alexandria and other cities, for a minimum of 20 years. Sudan remained under British rule. Egypt became a constitution monarchy and received all the trappings of foreign independence, such as ambassadors to other countries and membership in the League of Nations.

Women and Revolutions in Egypt Egyptian women hold a picture of Huda Shaarawi in the Arab Uprising protests of 2010-12

The struggle for women’s rights continues after Egypt’s nationalist struggle Women in Wafd not given their proper due Huda with the Nishan al-Kamal but no suffrage 1924 – Girls from The New Women Society publically protest and demand women’s rights at the opening of the new Egyptian Parliament 1956 – Women gets the right to vote