Contents
Doria Shafik
Campaigning for Egyptian women’s political rights through direct action.
Bint al-Nil · Parliament protest
- Born
- 14 December 1908
- Birthplace
- Tanta, Egypt
- Died
- 20 September 1975
More people
Doria Shafik
Doria Shafik was an Egyptian feminist, writer and editor whose campaigns challenged women’s exclusion from public power.
Early life
Education
Studied in Egypt before receiving a scholarship to Paris.
Philosophy
Earned a doctorate at the Sorbonne.
Career
- 1940s
Writing and organising
Developed publications and the Bint al-Nil movement.
- 1951–1954
Direct action
Led demonstrations and a hunger strike for women’s rights.
- 1957 onward
Political isolation
Was placed under house arrest after challenging authoritarian rule.
Campaigns & writing
Bint al-Nil
Built a magazine and organisation addressing women’s lives.
Parliament protest
Led women into parliament to demand political rights.
Hunger strike
Protested exclusion from constitutional discussions.
Beyond work
Writing
Also wrote poetry and translated religious texts.
Legacy
Her activism contributed to a broader movement preceding women’s suffrage in Egypt.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Photo: Al-Ahram Weekly. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
