on 16 march, between 150 and 300 upper-class egyptian women in veils staged a demonstration against the british occupation, an event that marked the entrance of egyptian women into public life. the women were led by safia zaghlul, wife of wafd leader saad zaghlul; huda sharawi, wife of one of the original members of the wafd and organiser of the egyptian feminist union; and muna fahmi wissa. women of the lower classes demonstrated in the streets alongside the men. in the countryside, women engaged in activities like cutting rail lines.