The Birth of Muhammad Farid
January 20th, 1868
Egypt, Culture, 1/21/2000

Muhammad Farid was one of the leaders of the National Movement of the 20th century. He succeeded Mustafa Kamel in leading the National Party; the first real political party in Egypt which contributed to creating nationalist awareness and defending Egypt's demands for independence and freedom.

Muhammad Farid made use of his substantial cultural and oratorical talents to defend his country's cause. He realized the necessity of putting the Egyptian Question to the European peoples, in order to pressure Britain to end its occupation of Egypt and put an end to the policy of despotism.

In 1909 he held an international conference in Brussels that was attended by politicians and leaders from Europe, India, the Middle and Far East. He shed light on Egypt's situation and Egypt's right to freedom and independence.

Meanwhile, the pro-British government had brought him to trial on false crimes and sentenced him to 6 months in jail. He came back and refused to have any attempts made to obtain a royal pardon. He argued that as matters stood, the whole country was behind bars.

Muhammad Farid laid the foundations of the syndicate movement in Egypt. He established the first trade union in 1909 and called for boycotting the government.

It was due to him that demands for the evacuation of the British were linked to those for an Egyptian constitution.

Again in 1912, the government brought him to trial on account of his publicly demanding a British evacuation, a constitution, and improvements to the living conditions of workers and farmers. He was tried in absentia and sentenced to one year in jail, but he fled to Europe where he continued to defend his country's issues until his death in 1918.

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