
Mayada's maternal great-grandmother, Melek, who was
a princess and the first cousin of Ottoman Sultan Abdul
Hameed, photographed with her diamond tiara. She had
a medal with diamonds the size of grapes. Mayada inherited
six of the diamonds and was forced to sell them during
the sanctions. Mayada also inherited the Shehname (a
decree by the Sultan saying that Melek had come of age
and was now a sultana, and listing all the lands she
received). She still has this document.