Mufidah Abdul Rahman’s Google Doodle illustrated by Deena Mohamed. Courtesy of Google
Besides being nearly everyone’s go-to search engine, Google is also known to celebrate numerous significant events, anniversaries, and people throughout the year. Today, the Google Doodle features Egyptian female lawyer Mufidah Abdul Rahman on what would have been her 106th birthday (January 20). Born in Cairo in 1914, Abdul Rahman was one of the first women to graduate from Cairo University’s law school after which she established herself as the first female attorney of the country. Her actions helped numerous Egyptian women – especially in the matters of manufacturing political balance.
Mufidah Abdul Rahman’s Google Doodle illustrated by Deena Mohamed. Courtesy of Google
Throughout her distinguished career, the lawyer defended over 400 legal disputes, became a member of the Egyptian Parliament, and never stopped fighting for what is right. Believing thoroughly in her clients and the cause, Mufidah acknowledged installments in eggs and natural products in return for fighting cases. What’s more, the renowned lawyer was the first lady to show up under the watchful eye of a military court and courts situated in the south of Egypt during her time. She also helped establish the National Feminist Party and battled against the critical issue of universal suffrage in Egypt.
Mufidah Abdul Rahman’s Google Doodle illustrated by Deena Mohamed. Courtesy of Google
Abdul Rahman’s social advocacy and social fight drove her to a women’s activist development association which was trying to defeat sociocultural restraints called – the Bint al-Nil where she was enlisted as a member. In 1951, Bint al-Nil’s founder Doria Shafikled organized a movement demanding the Egyptian Parliament to let women cast votes and hold political office. The parliament did not take the situation well and summoned Shafik to the court where Abdul Rahman represented her as her lawyer making this case one of her most recollected ones. In the end, Mufidah’s enthusiastic defense of Shafik created a lot of noise and helped Egyptian ladies win their entitlement to cast a ballot in 1956.
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