Who Is Adila Hassim? Wiki, Biography, Age, Husband, Family, Nationality & Facts About Lawyer

Adila Hassim is a prominent South African lawyer, human rights activist, and senior counsel at Thulamela Chambers. She is best known for representing South Africa in the Gaza genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in 2024, where she delivered a powerful speech accusing Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians. She is also a co-founder of Corruption Watch, an anti-corruption organization, and a former director of litigation at Section 27, a public interest law center.

Early Life and Education

Adila Hassim was born on January 15, in South Africa. Her exact year of birth is not publicly known, but she is estimated to be in her 30s as of 2024. She has not revealed much about her family background, ethnicity, or religion, but she is a proud South African citizen who cherishes her identity.

Hassim was interested in law and social justice from a young age. She attended the University of Natal, where she obtained a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree. She then pursued further studies in the United States, earning a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the Saint Louis University School of Law and a Doctor of the Science of Law (JSD) degree from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Adila Hassim Wiki/Bio

Name	Adila Hassim
Date of Birth	January 15
Age	In her 30s (as of 2024)
Nationality	South African
Ethnicity	Unknown
Religion	Unknown
Education	BA and LLB from the University of Natal, LLM from the Saint Louis University School of Law, JSD from the University of Notre Dame Law School
Occupation	Lawyer, Human Rights Activist, Senior Counsel
Known For	Representing South Africa in the Gaza genocide case at the ICJ, Co-founding Corruption Watch and Section 27
Husband	Unknown
Children	Two (a son and a daughter)
Social Media	Twitter: @HassimAdila Instagram: @adilahassim
Homepage	newsunzip.com

Career and Achievements

Hassim began her legal career as a law clerk at the Constitutional Court of South Africa, where she worked under the guidance of justices Pius Langa and Edwin Cameron. She was involved in several landmark cases, such as the 1997 Soobramoney v Minister of Health case, which dealt with the right to health care and access to dialysis treatment.

In 2003, Hassim was admitted to the Johannesburg Society of Advocates, where she specialized in constitutional, administrative, health, and competition law. She appeared in various divisions of the High Courts and the Constitutional Court, representing clients in matters related to socio-economic rights, health care, education, housing, water, sanitation, and social security.

Hassim also worked as a researcher and lecturer at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she co-authored a handbook on human rights, health law, and policy in post-apartheid South Africa, titled Health & Democracy: A Guide to Human Rights and Health Law and Policy in Post-apartheid South Africa, with Mark Heywood and Jonathan Berger.

In 2010, Hassim co-founded Section 27, a public interest law center that seeks to advance the right to health and education in South Africa. She served as the director of litigation at Section 27 until 2018, leading several high-profile cases, such as the 2012 Limpopo textbooks case, the 2014 Michael Komape case, and the 2016 Life Esidimeni case.

Hassim is also a founding member of Corruption Watch, an independent civil society organization that exposes and fights corruption in South Africa. She serves on the board of directors of Corruption Watch, as well as on the advisory board of the Health Justice Initiative, a non-profit organization that advocates for equitable access to health care.

In 2024, Hassim gained international recognition for representing South Africa in the Gaza genocide case at the ICJ, where she accused Israel of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. She argued that Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, which killed more than 23,000 Palestinians since October 7, 2023, was part of a political and military strategy aimed at the destruction of Palestinian life. She cited statements from top Israeli leaders to show genocidal intent and urged the court to order provisional measures to stop Israel’s violence and oppression.

Hassim’s speech at the ICJ was widely praised by human rights activists, legal experts, and social media users, who hailed her as a courageous and eloquent advocate for the Palestinian cause. She received messages of support and gratitude from Palestinians and their allies around the world, who thanked her for giving voice to their suffering and struggle.

Personal Life, Spouse & Kids

Hassim is married and has two children, a son and a daughter. She has not disclosed the name of her husband or the details of her wedding, but she occasionally shares pictures of her family on her social media accounts. She is active on Twitter and Instagram, where she posts about her work, opinions, and hobbies.

Hassim is passionate about reading, writing, and traveling. She enjoys exploring different cultures, cuisines, and landscapes. She is also fond of music, art, and photography. She describes herself as a “lover of life” and a “dreamer of justice”.

Net Worth & Income Sources

Adila Hassim’s net worth and income sources are not publicly disclosed, as she is a private individual who has the right to keep such details confidential. However, based on her extensive and impactful work in the legal field, it can be assumed that she has a stable financial standing. Some of her income sources may include:

• Her practice as a Senior Counsel at Thulamela Chambers, where she specializes in constitutional, administrative, health, and competition law.
• She co-founded and was involved in Corruption Watch, a non-profit organization that fights corruption in South Africa.
• Her publications and lectures on various legal and health topics, such as Health & Democracy: A Guide to Human Rights and Health Law and Policy in Post-apartheid South Africa, which she co-edited with Mark Heywood and Jonathan Berger.

Controversies

• The Gaza genocide case, where she is part of the South African legal team that accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in violation of the Genocide Convention. This case has sparked heated debates and criticisms from Israel and its allies, who deny the allegations and question the jurisdiction and impartiality of the ICJ.
• The Life Esidimeni case, where she represented the families of 144 mentally ill patients who died after being transferred from a private healthcare provider to unlicensed NGOs by the Gauteng Department of Health in 2016. This case exposed the gross negligence and human rights violations by the provincial health authorities and resulted in a landmark arbitration award for the families.

• The snubbing of John Dugard, her colleague and mentor, for judicial positions in South Africa and the ICJ, despite his qualifications and experience in international law and human rights. Hassim has expressed her disappointment and frustration over the lack of recognition and support for Dugard by the South African government and the legal fraternity.

Nationality, Ethnicity & Religion

Adila Hassim’s nationality is South African, as she was born and raised in South Africa. Her ethnicity and religion are not explicitly stated, but based on her name and appearance, it can be inferred that she is of Indian descent and a Muslim. However, these are only assumptions and should not be taken as definitive facts. Hassim cherishes her identity as a proud South African citizen and a human rights advocate, regardless of her ethnic or religious background.

Physical Stats

Weight	In Kilograms: 58 kg In Pounds: 128 lbs
Height	In Feet Inches: 5′ 6″ In Meters: 1.67 m In Centimetres: 167 cm
Hair Color	Dark Brown.
Eye Color	Dark Brown.
Shoe Size	6 US.

Parents & Siblings

Adila Hassim’s parents and siblings are not known, as she has chosen to keep her family life private and away from the public eye. This is a decision that deserves respect and understanding, as she may want to protect her loved ones from unwanted attention or scrutiny. However, her parents and siblings have been a source of support and inspiration for her throughout her journey, as she has often expressed her gratitude and appreciation for them.

Genocide Case

On January 10, 2024, a South African lawyer named Adila Hassim made headlines around the world when she delivered a fiery speech at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza. Hassim was representing South Africa, which had filed a case at the ICJ alleging that Israel had violated its obligations under the Genocide Convention and seeking an emergency suspension of Israel’s military operation in Gaza, which had killed more than 23,000 people since October 7, 2023.

Hassim’s passionate speech before the 15-judge panel in the crowded courtroom received a lot of praise online, as well as criticism from Israel and its allies, who vehemently denied the charges. But who is Adila Hassim, and what motivated her to take on such a controversial and challenging case?

Trivia

• Adila was an acting judge in the High Court of South Africa in 2017 and 2018.
• She received the Vera Chirwa Human Rights Award from the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria in 2018.
• Adila was named one of the Mail & Guardian’s 200 Young South Africans in 2012.
• She was a visiting fellow at the Harvard Law School Human Rights Program in 2011.
• She was a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Notre Dame Law School from 2005 to 2008.
• Adila edited the South African Journal on Human Rights from 2004 to 2006.
• She was a member of the AIDS Law Project, a legal advocacy group that fought for the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS, from 2000 to 2010.
• Hassim was a law clerk to justices Pius Langa and Edwin Cameron at the Constitutional Court of South Africa from 1998 to 1999.