Ashrawi

Ashrawi is a surname of Arabic origin. It is most commonly associated with Hanan Ashrawi, a prominent Palestinian politician, academic, and activist. Born in Ramallah in 1946, she has played a significant role in Palestinian politics for decades. Ashrawi holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Virginia and has taught at Birzeit University. She served as a spokesperson for the Palestinian delegation in the peace talks with Israel in the early 1990s and has been a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Ashrawi is also the founder of the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). Her activism has focused on human rights, democracy, and the pursuit of a just and lasting peace in the Middle East. The surname Ashrawi is relatively widespread among Palestinian communities and other Arabic-speaking populations. While Hanan Ashrawi is the most publicly recognized individual bearing the name, others with the surname exist in various professional and personal capacities. The etymology of the name itself is not definitively established, but it is believed to have roots in classical Arabic.