Nabihah Al-Husseini

First Arab female journalist and founder of Beirut's first girls' school

Nabihah Al-Husseini (1828-1901) pioneered women's education and journalism in the Arab world during the Ottoman period. As co-founder of Al-Funun magazine (1870), she became the first Arab woman to write publicly on social issues. In 1876 she established Beirut's first girls' school despite opposition from conservative religious authorities. Her advocacy led to the eventual establishment of formal women's education systems in Syria and Lebanon. Modern scholars like Dr. Leila Ahmed highlight her contributions in "Women and Nation". The Nabihah Al-Husseini Foundation continues her work today, operating 23 schools in marginalized communities. Her writings reveal early feminist critiques of patriarchal norms within Islamic societies.