Saad Zaghlul
|
|
Saad Zaghlul (also: Sa'ad Zaglul, Sa'd Zaghlul Pasha ibn Ibrahim, etc.) (1859 – August 23, 1927) was an Egyptian political figure. He served as prime minister of Egypt in 1924.
A native of Gharbiyyah in the Delta, Saad Zaghlul led the nationalist forces in Egypt demanding independence. The British tried to weaken the nationalist cause by arresting Zaghlul, but their action only sparked riots and violence.
On March 9, 1919, what many Egyptians called "the first revolution" broke out in Egypt. Protest demonstrations erupted in Cairo and quickly spread throughout the country. Egyptians were infuriated at the British expulsion of Wafd Party nationalist leader Saad Zaghlul and three others who had been exiled to Malta. The toll after three weeks of rioting was 800 Egyptians killed. The British finally backed down and Saad was freed on April 7. On April 11, the Wafd delegation finally reached Paris and presented its case for independence at the Versailles Peace Conference. They were bitterly disappointed by the United States which ended up backing the British Protectorate.