Personal Info
- Country of residence: Palestine
Information
Faryal Irsheed (1945 -), the first
wife of Prince Muhammad bin Talal. She is of Palestinian origin and was born in
Jenin. She was born in Jerusalem. She graduated from Columbia University. She
gave birth to two sons from Prince Muhammad: Prince Talal and Prince Ghazi.
in January 2022; King Abdullah II
awarded her the Medal and Medal of the Centenary of the Jordanian State.
her life
Her father, Farid Irsheed, is a
well-known politician and a major landowner. He was a member of the Jordanian
Parliament, a minister, and a member of the Senate in Jordan since the
declaration of annexation in 1948. Her mother, Farida Fahoum Irsheed, held the
position of chairwoman of the Board of Directors of the Red Crescent Society in
the West Bank.
Ferial attended Birzeit College, and
studied for two years at the American College for Women in Beirut before her
marriage. She resumed her studies and received her bachelor's degree from
Columbia University's School of General Studies in 1999.
Princess Ferial has long been
interested in supporting education and cultural activities inside and outside
Jordan. It had contributions to the relief work inside the refugee camps due to
the wars that took place in the region. She later headed the Rural Development
Association in Jordan, and worked to eradicate illiteracy, raise the
educational level, establish family planning programs, and encourage local
crafts in cooperation with farmers and Bedouin clans.
In 1992, she was appointed Goodwill
Ambassador to UNESCO, then appointed as a Special Adviser to the
Secretary-General of the World Organization. She also participated in several
programs sponsored by UNESCO, especially those concerned with the protection of
human cultural heritage, health and children's education.
In 1994, Ferial launched the
International Hope for Street Children Organization in cooperation with UNESCO,
which worked with field teams affiliated with the Children's Health Fund to
provide immediate necessary care for children in shelters. In 2005, she was
named an Ambassador for Global Education and regularly participates in
workshops, meetings and fundraisers.
In March of 2003, Ferial was elected
a member of the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Association, in
addition to being a member of the Board of Trustees of the International
Refugee Rescue Committee (based in New York). In May 2007, she was appointed to
the Jordanian Embassy in Washington in the position of Minister
Plenipotentiary, with the rank of ambassador.
Ferial also held the following
honorary positions:
United Nations Assembly Board of
Directors March 2003.
Board of Trustees of the New
York-based International Rescue Committee.
International Council at Columbia
University.
Board of Trustees of the New York
Public Library.
Curator of the Museum of Decorative
Arts, Paris.
The International Council of Tate
Modern in London.
Minister Plenipotentiary by the
Government of Jordan in May 2007 at the Jordanian Embassy as US Ambassador.
The Board of Directors of the Museum
of Modern Art is chaired by the Council of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs.
The Guggenheim Museum is a member of
the Middle East Circle.
Ferial commented on the recent
events that took place in Jordan in the case known in the media (the sedition
case) and wrote on her Twitter page:
Feryal Irsheed It is painful for the family to see one of their old men
behaving in such an immature and childish manner. Jordan is not a kindergarten,
for God's sake, undeniable acts that violate the rule of law and more. Get
real: mother and son. Ferial Ershid
her private life
In 1964, she married Prince Muhammad
bin Talal (1940-2021), the younger brother of the late King Hussein bin Talal
of Jordan and the uncle of King Abdullah II, and she gave birth to him:
Prince Talal bin Mohammed (born July
26, 1965).
Prince Ghazi bin Mohammed (born
October 15, 1966).
But this marriage did not last, and
they divorced in 1978.
Her full brothers are: Maher,
Muhannad, Imad, Basma, Princess Abeer (the wife of Prince Aziz Saeed Toson, one
of the descendants of Muhammad Toson Pasha, who belongs to the family of
Muhammad Ali in Egypt [1805-1953]).
source
Achievements and Awards
- Years in active
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