Rawya Ateya

Rawya Ateya
Rawya Ateya used her military experience as a political asset during her 1957 electoral campaign, hence her appearance in uniform at rallies.
Member of the National Assembly of Egypt
In office 14 July 1957 – 1959
President	Gamal Abdel Nasser
Constituency	Cairo
Majority	110,807
Member of the People's Assembly of Egypt
In office 1984 – ?
President	Hosni Mubarak
Preceded by	Farkhounda Hassan
Personal details
Born	Rawya Shams el Dine Ateya (1926-04-19)19 April 1926 Giza Governorate, Egypt
Died	9 May 1997(1997-05-09) (aged 71)
Nationality	Egyptian
Political party	National Democratic Party
Alma mater	Cairo University
Profession	Teacher, Journalist, Politician
Religion	Islam
Awards	Badge of the Third Army Medallion of 6 October Medal of the armed forces
Military service
Allegiance	Egypt
Service/branch	Liberation Army
Rank	Captain
Unit	Commandos
Battles/wars	Suez War

Rawya Ateya (Arabic: راوية عطية‎‎, 19 April 1926 – 9 May 1997) was an Egyptian woman who became the first female parliamentarian in the Arab world in 1957.

Rawya Ateya was born in Giza Governorate on 19 April 1926. She grew up in a politically active family. Her father was the secretary-general of the liberal Wafd Party in Gharbia, and his political activities led to his incarceration. Ateya herself took part in demonstrations from a very early age, and she was injured during the 1939 anti-British protests. She continued her studies to an advanced level, which was highly unusual for Egyptian girls at the time. She obtained several university degrees in various fields: a license in letters from Cairo University in 1947, a diploma in education and psychology, a master's degree in journalism and a diploma in Islamic studies. She worked as a teacher for 15 years and had a brief six-month stint as a journalist.

In 1956, Ateya became the first woman to be commissioned as an officer in the Liberation Army. She played an active role in the Suez War, during which Egypt was invaded by the United Kingdom, France and Israel. She helped train 4,000 women in first aid and nursing amid the war. Ateya held the rank of captain in a women's commando unit. During the October War of 1973, she chaired the Society of Families of Martyrs and Soldiers, which earned her the nickname of "mother of the martyred combatants." She obtained several military awards from the Egyptian state, notably the badge of the Third Army, the Medallion of 6 October and the medal of the armed forces.