Princess Tarhata Kiram was female Muslim leader from the Sulu archipelago who campaigned on behalf of Muslims in the region.

PRINCESS TARHATA KIRAM

Kiram was born in the Sulu archipelago, the oldest sultante in the Philippines. In 1920, at a time when women were condsidered as home keepers, she was sent to the United Staes as the first woman pensionado. She was known for being strong-willed and liberal minded and for her beauty.

On returning to Sulu she married Datu Tahil (a leader of the 1927 Moro revolt in Sulu) and consequnetly was forced into exile, resurfacing in 1931 when she joined local politics.

(Datu Tahil was sentenced to 10years of imprisonment. Princess Tarhata had two other marriages: to Datu Buyungan and to Salvador Francisco).

In politics she campaigned against laws unfavourable to the Muslims.

Kiram was one of the heirs of the island of Sabah. The Princess led the other royal heirs in renouncing their rights ove rthe isalnd in July 1977 in line with President Marcos' efforts to fostyer closer relations with Malaysia

1904

to 23 May 1979