Aziza Othmana

Aziza Othmana (Arabic: عزيزة عثمانة; c. 1606-1669), born Fatma Othmana (فاطمة عثمانة), was a 17th‑century Tunisian princess of the Mouradites dynasty. Born circa 1606, she is remembered as one of the most prominent female figures in Tunisian history, mainly for her extensive charitable works and religious endowments. Notably, Aziza Othmana is recognized for freeing her slaves, purchasing enslaved individuals to grant them freedom, and allocating her entire wealth to support underprivileged communities. She is also credited with the creation and development of several urban structures in Tunis, including the Aziza Othmana Hospital.

Early life Aziza Othmana was born in 1606 into a family of military leaders. She was the daughter of Ahmed Dey (Abul Al‑Abbas Ahmed Ibn Mohammed Ibn Othman Dey) and the granddaughter of Othman Dey.

She was raised in her grandfather’s palace, Dar Othman, which has been preserved and is open to visitors. At her childhood home she received a comprehensive education. Scholars introduced her to Islamic civilization, Sharia law, Quranic studies. Her education also included civic instruction, literature, poetry, history, humanities and other cultural sciences, which was uncommon for women in Tunisia at the time. This strongly influenced her later philanthropic activities.

Biography Aziza Othmana was married to Hammouda Pasha Bey, ruler of the Mouradite dynasty. Following her marriage, she left her grandfather’s palace to reside with her husband. Aziza Othmana and Hammouda Pasha Bey reportedly had a son named Ahmed, who was assassinated during her lifetime. an event that is described as a turning point in her life. After this loss she dedicated a large part of her resources and time to aiding the poor and disadvantaged. Historical accounts describe her as socially engaged from a young age and note that she challenged prevailing social norms, particularly through decisions related to property, wealth distribution, and personal status. Contemporary accounts note that Aziza Othmana was not widely known during her own lifetime, despite her extensive actions on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged.

Charitable works Aziza Othmana is best known for her extensive charitable and social contributions, which earned her widespread admiration among the people of Tunis. She became popularly known as "Aziza", meaning "beloved".

At an early stage in her life, Aziza Othmana emancipated all her slaves and later created financial support mechanisms for formerly enslaved individuals.

Towards the end of her life, established a major waqf covering more than 90,000 hectares of cultivated land, as well as, urban revenue-generating properties such as bakeries, hammams, warehouses, and shops located in the medina of Tunis. The revenues from these properties were dedicated to numerous charitable causes, including ransoming prisoners and purchasing enslaved people with the sole purpose of freeing them, and later providing dowries for impoverished young women, and supporting social welfare initiatives. She also endowed agricultural land, olive groves, and beaches at the island of Kerkennah for local fishermen, these legal holdings are maintained to this day.

She contributed to urban improvements in the medina of Tunis, notably by financing street lighting. Part of her revenues went to the maintenance of religious buildings in Tunis and in Islamic holy cities Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem.

Legacy Alleged portrait of Aziza Othmana on display at the book museum in Tunis. Aziza Othmana’s name is preserved through several public institutions in Tunisia. Aziza Othmana is sometimes described in modern literature as an early example of organized social philanthropy in Tunisia.

The Aziza Othmana Hospital in Tunis, renamed in 1960, derives from the bimaristan founded and financed through her charitable endowments in the 17th century. The hospital continues to operate as a public healthcare institution under the Ministry of Health and has undergone periodic renovations and upgrades. In June 2013, the pharmaceutical company Merck Serono awarded the Merck Serono Fertility Grant 2013 to the assisted reproduction laboratory of the Aziza Othmana Hospital, represented by Dr. Amel Zhioua.

On 16 December 1985, the Tunisian postal service issued a postage stamp featuring Aziza Othmana as part of a series celebrating Arab figure. The stamp had a 100-millimes denomination and was designed by Tunisian painter Hatem El Mekki. In July 2012, Tunisair named one of its aircraft after her, as part of a program honoring historical Tunisian figures.