fellah

In Arab countries, farmer or farm labourer. The fellahin were thought to be the descendants of the ancient Egyptians who mixed with the various occupying peoples: Arabs, Persians, Greeks, and Turks. In Egypt, approximately 60% of the fellah population live in rural areas, and until 1952 most were serfs, owning no land. Despite land reforms, many are still without land. Most are Sunni Muslims.