Melia Sakakini

Melia Sakakini (1890–1966) was a Palestinian nationalist. She was a headteacher and one of the founders of the Arab Women's Association of Palestine.

Life Sakakini was born in 1890. Her elder brother was the Arab Nationalist Khalil Sakakini.

In 1917-1918 her brother was arrested because of his friendship with a man suspected of being an American spy. Melia visited her brother during his detention.

She was a Palestinian Christian. She led a school as the headteacher.

She was one of the founders of the Arab Women's Association of Palestine in 1929. She was 39 at the time and one of the older founders who was not married. Initially it was the married women who led the organisation but in time the single women became more prominient. The organisation had strong links to the Arab Executive Committee (AEC) as several founders were married to AEC members and her brother was an AEC member. She was one of a number of older single women like Zahiya Nashashibi who became active in women's organisations. Their reputations could have been damaged but their seniority and their family support protected them. The members of the organisations elected them as they had the time and energy to devote themselves to the cause.