Mufidah Abdul Rahman's 106th Birthday

Today’s Doodle, illustrated by Cairo-based guest artist Deena Mohamed, celebrates Egyptian lawyer Mufidah Abdul Rahman on her 106th birthday. Born in Cairo on this day in 1914, she was among the first women to graduate from Cairo University’s Faculty of Law and became the premier female attorney in Egypt. Her determined efforts in and out of the courtroom helped forge the path to political equality for Egyptian women.

While practicing law, Mufidah built relationships with like-minded women advocates and was inspired to co-found the National Feminist Party, a women’s organization fighting for universal suffrage in Egypt. Her social advocacy led her to be recruited into Bint al-Nil (“Daughter of the Nile”), a feminist union seeking to overcome sociocultural repressions that the women of this era faced.

In 1951, Bint al-Nil founder Doria Shafik led an interruption of the Egyptian Parliament to demand women’s right to vote and hold political office. In response, Shafik was summoned to court and handpicked the esteemed Abdul Rahman to defend her. 

Considered to be a case against not only Shafik but also the Egyptian women’s rights movement as a whole, the trial presented a critical opportunity for advocates to have their voices heard. Mufidah’s impassioned defense of Shafik fanned the flames of the cause, and this landmark case helped Egyptian women win their right to vote in 1956.

This Doodle also highlights the more personal moments in Abdul Rahman’s life, from being the young lawyer who received payment in eggs and fruits to the mother who enjoyed a rich family life with her nine children and supportive husband. 

Throughout her distinguished career, Abdul Rahman defended over 400 court cases, became a member of Egyptian Parliament, and never stopped fighting justice.

Guest Artist Q&A with Deena Mohamed

Today’s Doodle was illustrated by Cairo-based guest artist Deena Mohamed. Below, she shares her thoughts behind the making of this Doodle:

Q: Why was this topic meaningful to you personally? 

A: It was cool to research the life of such a pioneer. Mufidah is still one of the most prominent lawyers in our history, but even listening to her talk you can see her principles and compassion shine through.  
 

Q: What were your first thoughts when you were approached about the project?

A: I was excited about the opportunity to illustrate a Doodle about an amazing Egyptian woman, but I also thought, “How do you make being a lawyer visually interesting? Papers? Court?” Then I found out Mufidah had excellent style and a very strong aesthetic, so it was great.
 

Q: Did you draw inspiration from anything in particular for this Doodle? 

A: Definitely from Mufidah’s life. I wanted to draw her because she has such a strong aesthetic. I love showing older women succeed late into their life, but also the small details about her like how she was paid at first in eggs and fruit, her love for her family, and her cool bonnets.
 

Q: What message do you hope people take away from your Doodle?

A: I hope it can pull interest to Mufidah’s incredible life and accomplishments because it’s not just a portrait of her – it’s animated, it blinks in and out, there are eggs and fruits and a family photo, so I hope it would make someone interested enough to find out why we would put these things into a Doodle about a lawyer.

Early concepts and sketches of the Doodle