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| Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim obituary | Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim obituary |
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| The Sudanese feminist and political activist Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, who has died aged 88, was a force of nature. To observe her in action was to be humbled by her indefatigability. In a country where the slightest of strays from social convention were frowned upon, she was a pioneer in the field of women’s rights, and, in 1965, became Sudan’s first female member of parliament after participating in a democratic movement that removed military rule. | The Sudanese feminist and political activist Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, who has died aged 88, was a force of nature. To observe her in action was to be humbled by her indefatigability. In a country where the slightest of strays from social convention were frowned upon, she was a pioneer in the field of women’s rights, and, in 1965, became Sudan’s first female member of parliament after participating in a democratic movement that removed military rule. |
| Her political activism could not be separated from her feminism, and vice versa. She spent her early years challenging British colonial rule in Sudan and the postcolonial military government of Ibrahim Abboud, while also co-founding the Sudanese Women’s Union, which went on to campaign for and secure the right of women to vote, receive maternity pay and a pension. | Her political activism could not be separated from her feminism, and vice versa. She spent her early years challenging British colonial rule in Sudan and the postcolonial military government of Ibrahim Abboud, while also co-founding the Sudanese Women’s Union, which went on to campaign for and secure the right of women to vote, receive maternity pay and a pension. |
| Ibrahim did not confuse Sudanese values with subjugation, nor did she see feminism as a foreign concept. She struck an authentic balance between pride in her identity and challenging the status quo, and understood that change must come from within the culture. She insisted on wearing the traditional toub, a long piece of thin cloth that is loosely wrapped around the body and looped over the head, but she also never flinched from challenging religious practices that deprived women of basic rights. | Ibrahim did not confuse Sudanese values with subjugation, nor did she see feminism as a foreign concept. She struck an authentic balance between pride in her identity and challenging the status quo, and understood that change must come from within the culture. She insisted on wearing the traditional toub, a long piece of thin cloth that is loosely wrapped around the body and looped over the head, but she also never flinched from challenging religious practices that deprived women of basic rights. |
| She was born in the city of Omdurman, the daughter of Aisha Mohamed Ahmed Fadl, who was, unusually, a college graduate, and Ahmed Ibrahim, a teacher and imam. Fatima’s activist spirit burgeoned early. At Omdurman secondary school, she created a student paper called Elra’edda, or The Leading Woman, railing against the British colonial government of the time. When the school cancelled science classes for girls, she led a protest to have them reinstated. Aged 14, she set up the Intellectual Women’s Association, against British efforts to limit the role of women in Sudanese society. | She was born in the city of Omdurman, the daughter of Aisha Mohamed Ahmed Fadl, who was, unusually, a college graduate, and Ahmed Ibrahim, a teacher and imam. Fatima’s activist spirit burgeoned early. At Omdurman secondary school, she created a student paper called Elra’edda, or The Leading Woman, railing against the British colonial government of the time. When the school cancelled science classes for girls, she led a protest to have them reinstated. Aged 14, she set up the Intellectual Women’s Association, against British efforts to limit the role of women in Sudanese society. |
| Although Fatima passed the Cambridge Certificate Examination and was admitted to the University of Khartoum, her father forbade her attendance, and she became a teacher. Influenced by her older brother, she joined the Sudanese Communist party aged 19. At the time, it was the only party that allowed female membership and was at the forefront of political activism in the country. | Although Fatima passed the Cambridge Certificate Examination and was admitted to the University of Khartoum, her father forbade her attendance, and she became a teacher. Influenced by her older brother, she joined the Sudanese Communist party aged 19. At the time, it was the only party that allowed female membership and was at the forefront of political activism in the country. |
| She co-founded the SWU in 1952, and was elected its president in 1956. She was also editor-in-chief of its magazine, Sawt al-Mara, or Women’s Voice, which played a leading role in the resistance. After the 1964 October revolution, which brought down Abboud’s regime and reinstated constitutional government, women were allowed to vote and run for election, and it was then that Ibrahim became the first woman to become an MP. In 1968 most of the rights for women that she had fought for were passed: the right to work in any field, equal pay, provision of nurseries and the rights of girls to higher education. | She co-founded the SWU in 1952, and was elected its president in 1956. She was also editor-in-chief of its magazine, Sawt al-Mara, or Women’s Voice, which played a leading role in the resistance. After the 1964 October revolution, which brought down Abboud’s regime and reinstated constitutional government, women were allowed to vote and run for election, and it was then that Ibrahim became the first woman to become an MP. In 1968 most of the rights for women that she had fought for were passed: the right to work in any field, equal pay, provision of nurseries and the rights of girls to higher education. |
| In 1969 she married the trade unionist Alshafie Ahmed Alshiekh. The same year, a coup led by Jaafar Nimeiri toppled the government and, after a brief alliance with the communists, Nimeiri went on to purge their higher ranks. Among the executed was her husband. Ibrahim spent the next few years either under house arrest or in jail, and was only allowed freedom of movement after Nimeiri was overthrown in 1985. | In 1969 she married the trade unionist Alshafie Ahmed Alshiekh. The same year, a coup led by Jaafar Nimeiri toppled the government and, after a brief alliance with the communists, Nimeiri went on to purge their higher ranks. Among the executed was her husband. Ibrahim spent the next few years either under house arrest or in jail, and was only allowed freedom of movement after Nimeiri was overthrown in 1985. |
| Her freedom from harassment was shortlived. In 1989, another coup by Omar al-Bashir installed a hardline Islamic military dictatorship that went about violently dismantling civil society. The Communist party, seen as secular and thus unIslamic, received harsh treatment. Ibrahim was again persecuted and arrested. Following her release, in 1990 she sought asylum in the UK, where she joined her son, Ahmed, a doctor, and continued to campaign for human rights. She started a London branch of the SWU, and was elected president of the Women’s International Democratic Federation. | Her freedom from harassment was shortlived. In 1989, another coup by Omar al-Bashir installed a hardline Islamic military dictatorship that went about violently dismantling civil society. The Communist party, seen as secular and thus unIslamic, received harsh treatment. Ibrahim was again persecuted and arrested. Following her release, in 1990 she sought asylum in the UK, where she joined her son, Ahmed, a doctor, and continued to campaign for human rights. She started a London branch of the SWU, and was elected president of the Women’s International Democratic Federation. |
| In 1993 she received a UN award for outstanding achievements in the field of human rights, and the Ibn Rushd prize for freedom of thought in 2006. She returned to Sudan and its parliament in 2005, following pressure on Bashir to reform. However the country remains a military dictatorship, and Ibrahim retired from politics in 2007. | In 1993 she received a UN award for outstanding achievements in the field of human rights, and the Ibn Rushd prize for freedom of thought in 2006. She returned to Sudan and its parliament in 2005, following pressure on Bashir to reform. However the country remains a military dictatorship, and Ibrahim retired from politics in 2007. |
| That there is no clear successor to her is emblematic of a wider truncation that has come to pass during Bashir’s rule. Almost 30 years after Ibrahim left Sudan, women still suffer the random long arm of public order laws. However, her death inspired protest once again, as mourners shouted slogans against the current government and ejected its representatives from her funeral. | That there is no clear successor to her is emblematic of a wider truncation that has come to pass during Bashir’s rule. Almost 30 years after Ibrahim left Sudan, women still suffer the random long arm of public order laws. However, her death inspired protest once again, as mourners shouted slogans against the current government and ejected its representatives from her funeral. |
| She is survived by Ahmed. | She is survived by Ahmed. |
| • Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, politician and human rights campaigner, born 20 December 1928; died 12 August 2017 | • Fatima Ahmed Ibrahim, politician and human rights campaigner, born 20 December 1928; died 12 August 2017 |