Muhammad Ali regarded his Egyptian subjects as uncivilized beasts unfit for European law.

Evidence

On the other hand, the Pasha harbored very negative views towards the population of Egypt. He despised the fellahin and could not respect them except as a source of cheap and hardworking manpower. He once ordered a certain legal code to be translated from a European language so that it could be applied in Egypt. He told the translator, however, not to copy the European model blindly, since the law suited the “Europeans [who are] enlightened and civilized people. Our people, however are like wild beasts [vahşlar] for whom obviously this law will not be suitable.” On another occasion he said that “the inhabitants of our province, Egypt, are of three kinds. The first does not care except about themselves. The second, although they can be loyal and kind, are devoid of any sense of discretion. The third are in the same position as animals.” — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1547

Categorization

• QUESTION: How do these dismissive views reconcile with his ambitious state-building projects that depended on Egyptian labor and, eventually, Egyptian officers?