Egyptian Women's Day: Why 16 March?

- On 16 March in 1919, 300 Egyptian women took to the streets demonstrating against British occupation. On that day Egypt acquired its first woman martyr of the anti-colonial struggle: Hamida Khalil, who was shot down in front of the Hussein Mosque in a confrontation between the demonstrators and the police.

- On 16 March in 1923, the first women's organisation, the Egyptian Women's Union, was established under the leadership of Hoda Sha'rawi.

C a p t i o n : Egyptian women march in celebration of their political rights in 1956, carrying posters of Hoda Sha'rawi (left) and Umm Saber (right), the first Egyptian woman martyr in 1919

Al-Ahram Weekly Online : 20 - 26 March 2003 (Issue No. 630)
Located at: http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2003/630/fe2.htm