Sarah's story

In the early 20th century, an exceptional woman named Sara Ohannes Hovhannes emerged as a prominent figure in Iraqi history. Born in Baghdad in 1889 to an Armenian family, Sara experienced early tragedy with the loss of her mother, Sophie, and her younger sister, Zabel. After their deaths, her aunt, Sophie, took care of her and inherited a large fortune from her father, which included money and land in Baghdad and a prosperous area that would later become known as "Camp Sara."

Sarah grew up in a beautiful house on Rashid Street overlooking the Tigris River. In memory of her sister Zabel, who died at the age of six, her father donated one of the family's large homes to the Armenian community in Baghdad, which they converted into a school called the Zabelian School.

A pivotal event in Sarah's life occurred in August 1910, when Nazim Pasha, the Ottoman governor of Baghdad, organized a lavish boat dance to raise funds for a new hospital. The event, which included diplomatic figures, representatives of foreign communities, and local Christian families, became the talk of the town. Sarah attended with her family, dressed in traditional Armenian garb, and despite her young age—just 17—she caught the attention of Nazim Pasha, who was then fifty years old. When he asked for her hand in marriage, she refused, angering the governor, who felt deeply offended.

What followed was dramatic. Nazim Pasha used his power to pursue Sara doggedly, ignoring her outright refusal. These tensions escalated amid growing political unrest in Baghdad, where various factions were vying for influence. Amid this turmoil, journalist Ismail Hakki Baban—associated with the Union and Progress Party—visited Baghdad and discovered what had happened to Sara. He wrote scandalous articles criticizing the governor's actions, sparking a wider wave of popular anger.

In early 1911, Iraqi representatives in the Ottoman Assembly filed a formal complaint against Nazim Pasha's conduct, prompting intervention from Istanbul. Following intense popular and political pressure, he was removed from office on March 17, 1911.

But Sarah's role was not limited to politics; she also made significant humanitarian contributions. In 1915, as the Armenians' suffering intensified during the genocide, she founded the Armenian Women's Association to aid the displaced and afflicted. By 1917, she had provided food and clothing to some 20,000 Armenian refugees in Iraq, embodying her profound commitment to those most in need in times of crisis.