Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim
Encyclopedia
Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim , Sudanese writer, women rights activist and Socialist leader.
, her family one of educated family at that time,her grandfather was a headmaster to the first Sudanese School for boys and as the same time Imam
in his neighborhood's mosque. Fatima's father graduated from Gordon Memorial College
and works as a teacher, and Fatima's mother among the earlier generation of girls whom tended the school. Fatima grew up during the time of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
colonial in Sudan, when her father expelled from teaching in a government school when he refused to teaching lessons by English, then her father moved to teach in a popular school.
called Elra'edda, or by Arabic الرائدة or by English Vanguard or The Pioneer girls, her newspaper focuses on the women rights and also she wrote in newspapers at that time by code name. Fatima conducted the first women strike in Sudan and the reason of strike her school administration decided to omit the science lessons and replaced it by Family science lesson and the strike was successful. Her activities went beyond the school; in 1947 she founded Intellectual Women Association, in 1952 she worked with other women and founded Aletahad Elnees'y Alsodanni or Arabicالاتحاد النسائي or Sudanese Women's Union, which she belonged to the executive committee; then a sphere of action of Women's Union opened membership to all women in Sudan and WU opened branches in different provinces in Sudan. The agenda of Women's Union at that time, according to an amendment to its constitution in 1954, focused on the right to vote, women suffrage, and the right of women to act as representatives in all legislative, political, and administrative corporations. At WUshe also worked to establish equality with men in wages and technical training, and helped to remove illiteracy among women. Because of WU's objectives, there occurred clashes with the political right such as Jabihat El-methaiq elaslami or Islamic Pledge Front. In 1955 Fatima became a chief editor of Sawat al-Maraa Magazine or Woman's Voice Magazine (it is published by Women's Union), and this magazine later plays an essential role in the overthrow of the Ibrahim Abboud
regime. In 1954 Fatima's joined the Sudanese Communist Party
(SCP), and in a short period Fatima became a member of the Central Committee of the SCP (SCP was the first Sudanese Party which women had a formation inside the party since 1946). In 1956-1957, Fatima became the president of Women's Union, and one of her objectives was for the independence of the union from their affiliation and domination of SCP, and she widened the participation of women with difference backgrounds. In 1965 Fatima was elected to enter the parliament, to became the first deputy Sudanese women. The constitutional crisis caused by the illegal exclusion of the democratically elected SCP members from the Sudanese parliament, which was spearheaded by Sadiq al Mahdi caused much acrimony between the SCP and the Umma Party. In 1969,when Jaafar Muhammad al-Nemieri took a power by military coup with supported by SCP, activities of Women's Union were spread out and women gained many rights in difference fields, but the honeymoon between Sudanese Communist party and Jaafar al-Nemieri was ended after a huge dispute which led in July 1971 to a military coup
supported by SCP led by Hashim Elatta, but the coup failed after a few days in a power and Nimiri returned to power again which led to execution to the leaders of coup and SCP and among them Alshafi Ahmed Elshikh a workers union leader and the husband of Fatima, after that Fatima was placed in house arrest for several years, and also arrested many times during the Nemieri regime. In 1990 Fatima left Sudan after the Omar Hassan al-Bashir military coup, and joined the opposition in exile as the President of the banned Sudanese Women's Union. In 1991 Fatima was elected President of the Women International Democratic Federation. She returned to Sudan in 2005 after reconciliation between the government and Opposition, and currently has been appointed as a deputy in the parliament representing the SCP. Her brother is also a writer and involved in politics Salah Ahmed Ibrahim
, she has one son from her husband Elshafi named Mohammed Ahmed.
or Personal Status Affairs.
Early life
Fatima was born in KhartoumKhartoum
Khartoum is the capital and largest city of Sudan and of Khartoum State. It is located at the confluence of the White Nile flowing north from Lake Victoria, and the Blue Nile flowing west from Ethiopia. The location where the two Niles meet is known as "al-Mogran"...
, her family one of educated family at that time,her grandfather was a headmaster to the first Sudanese School for boys and as the same time Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
in his neighborhood's mosque. Fatima's father graduated from Gordon Memorial College
Gordon Memorial College
Gordon Memorial College is an educational institution in Sudan. It was built between 1899 and 1902 as part of Lord Kitchener's wide-ranging educational reforms....
and works as a teacher, and Fatima's mother among the earlier generation of girls whom tended the school. Fatima grew up during the time of Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan
Anglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
colonial in Sudan, when her father expelled from teaching in a government school when he refused to teaching lessons by English, then her father moved to teach in a popular school.
Career
Fatima joined Omdurman Girls' Secondary School, and her activities towards women rights started from that time, she published a wall newspaperWall newspaper
A wall newspaper or wall-newspaper is a printed newspaper designed to be displayed and read in public places, such as walls. The practice dates back to at the least the Roman Empire. They are often produced by governmental entities in locations where production costs or distribution problems might...
called Elra'edda, or by Arabic الرائدة or by English Vanguard or The Pioneer girls, her newspaper focuses on the women rights and also she wrote in newspapers at that time by code name. Fatima conducted the first women strike in Sudan and the reason of strike her school administration decided to omit the science lessons and replaced it by Family science lesson and the strike was successful. Her activities went beyond the school; in 1947 she founded Intellectual Women Association, in 1952 she worked with other women and founded Aletahad Elnees'y Alsodanni or Arabicالاتحاد النسائي or Sudanese Women's Union, which she belonged to the executive committee; then a sphere of action of Women's Union opened membership to all women in Sudan and WU opened branches in different provinces in Sudan. The agenda of Women's Union at that time, according to an amendment to its constitution in 1954, focused on the right to vote, women suffrage, and the right of women to act as representatives in all legislative, political, and administrative corporations. At WUshe also worked to establish equality with men in wages and technical training, and helped to remove illiteracy among women. Because of WU's objectives, there occurred clashes with the political right such as Jabihat El-methaiq elaslami or Islamic Pledge Front. In 1955 Fatima became a chief editor of Sawat al-Maraa Magazine or Woman's Voice Magazine (it is published by Women's Union), and this magazine later plays an essential role in the overthrow of the Ibrahim Abboud
Ibrahim Abboud
El Ferik Ibrahim Abboud was a Sudanese president, general, and political figure. A career soldier, Abboud served in World War II in Eritrea and Ethiopia. In 1949, Abboud became the deputy Commander in Chief of the Sudanese military. Upon independence, Abboud became the Commander in Chief of the...
regime. In 1954 Fatima's joined the Sudanese Communist Party
Sudanese Communist Party
The Sudanese Communist Party is a Communist political party in the Republic of Sudan. Founded in 1946, it was a major force in Sudanese politics until 1971, when military ruler Gaafar al-Nimeiry launched a wave of repression against the party after a failed coup implicated...
(SCP), and in a short period Fatima became a member of the Central Committee of the SCP (SCP was the first Sudanese Party which women had a formation inside the party since 1946). In 1956-1957, Fatima became the president of Women's Union, and one of her objectives was for the independence of the union from their affiliation and domination of SCP, and she widened the participation of women with difference backgrounds. In 1965 Fatima was elected to enter the parliament, to became the first deputy Sudanese women. The constitutional crisis caused by the illegal exclusion of the democratically elected SCP members from the Sudanese parliament, which was spearheaded by Sadiq al Mahdi caused much acrimony between the SCP and the Umma Party. In 1969,when Jaafar Muhammad al-Nemieri took a power by military coup with supported by SCP, activities of Women's Union were spread out and women gained many rights in difference fields, but the honeymoon between Sudanese Communist party and Jaafar al-Nemieri was ended after a huge dispute which led in July 1971 to a military coup
1971 Sudanese coup d'état
The 1971 Sudanese coup d'état was a short-lived communist-backed coup, led by Major Hashem al Atta, against the government of President Gaafar Nimeiry. The coup took place on 19 July 1971, toppling the government of Sudan, but was ultimately unsuccessful as the Nimeiry government was restored on 22...
supported by SCP led by Hashim Elatta, but the coup failed after a few days in a power and Nimiri returned to power again which led to execution to the leaders of coup and SCP and among them Alshafi Ahmed Elshikh a workers union leader and the husband of Fatima, after that Fatima was placed in house arrest for several years, and also arrested many times during the Nemieri regime. In 1990 Fatima left Sudan after the Omar Hassan al-Bashir military coup, and joined the opposition in exile as the President of the banned Sudanese Women's Union. In 1991 Fatima was elected President of the Women International Democratic Federation. She returned to Sudan in 2005 after reconciliation between the government and Opposition, and currently has been appointed as a deputy in the parliament representing the SCP. Her brother is also a writer and involved in politics Salah Ahmed Ibrahim
Salah Ahmed Ibrahim
Salah Ahmed Ibrahim, Arabic صلاح أحمد إبراهيم, was a Sudanese writer, poet and diplomat.-Writing:Salah Ibrahim was described in 1963 as the most important Sudanese poet of his generation, and that: "in his poetry there is all the yearning, all the frustration of his generation. He writes his poetry...
, she has one son from her husband Elshafi named Mohammed Ahmed.
Awarded
- She received a UN award for Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Human Rights.(1993)
- Awarded Ibn Rushd Prize(2006) from Ibn Rushd Fund For Freedom of Thought
Works
- Hassadanna Khill'al Ashroon A'mm'a, Arabic حصادنا خلال عشرين عاماً, or (Our Harvest During Twenty Years).Khartoum: Sudanese Women's Union Press, n.d.
- Tariqnu ila el-Tuharur, (Our Road to Emancipation)." (n.d.).
- el-Mara el-Arabiyya wal Taghyir el-Ijtimai, Arabic المرأة العربية والتغيير الاجتماعي or The Arab Women's and The Social Change.1986
- Holla Gadie'a alahoal al-shekhssia,Arabic حول قضايا الأحوال الشخصية
or Personal Status Affairs.
- Gadie'a Alm'ar'a el-A'mela Al-sodania, Arabic قضايا المرأة العاملة السودانية, or The Affairs of Sudanese Workers Women's.
- An'a Awaan Eltageir Lakeen!,Arabic !آن آوان التغيير ولكن or It's Time for Change but!
- Atfallana we'l Re'aia El-sehi'a,Arabic أطفالنا والرعاية الصحية, or Our Children and Health Care.
- Arrow at Rest. In Women in Exile, ed. Mahnaz Afkhami, 191-208: University Press of Virginia, 1994.
- Sudan's Attack on Women's Rights Exploits Islam. Africa News 37, no. 5 (1992): 5.