Syrian parliament gets first-ever woman speaker
A woman has been chosen as Syria's new parliament speaker for the first time, in a historic move, Russia Today reports. According to the source, Hadiyeh al-Abbas secured an uncontested victory during the first session of the People's Assembly.
Abbas, 58, previously served as a member of parliament from 2003 to 2007. Prior to that, she served as part of the governing body of the regional branch of the ruling Arab Baath Socialist Party for a decade, from 1988 to 1998.
The source details that the female politician holds a PhD in agricultural engineering and was a professor at al-Furat University in the eastern city of Deir el-Zour. She has also worked with the National Union of Syrian Students.
The move is a historic one for Syria. Although the country's parliamentary history dates back to 1919, women only gained the right to vote and run for parliament under the constitution in 1953.