Syria's First Female Vice President Hailed as Progress for Women

[Gloria]

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


2//Arab News, Saudi Arabia Friday, 24, March, 2006 (23, Safar, 1427)

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=79682&d=24&m=3&y=2006



SYRIA’S FIRST FEMALE VICE PRESIDENT HAILED AS PROGRESS FOR WOMEN

Somayya Jabarti & Abdul Maqsood Mirza, Arab News





JEDDAH, 24 March 2006 — Syria named a veteran former culture minister, Najah Al-Attar, as its first woman vice president, the official SANA news agency reported yesterday.

“Mrs. Najah Al-Attar was sworn in as second vice-president in charge of cultural policy by President Bashar Assad,” SANA said.

(SNIP)



Director General of the Khadija bint Khuwailed Center Nadiah Baashan said it was not only good news, but also righteous.



“Women are taking back their right that has been assigned by Islamic Law,” said Baashan. “The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) had assigned to Nusaiba, daughter of Kaab, a role identical to the head of a market-inspection team. What is happening to women in the world presently is aberration from the right.”



(SNIP)



A male political science professor at a prominent local Saudi university who did not want to be named said the political shift in Syria is a part of a greater move where women, who are underrepresented in politics in the region, have no choice but to keep their eyes on the prize and grab the fruits of power through hard work and diligence.



“There’s no doubt that women are being driven to join the Arab political arena because men’s representation on behalf of women’s voices is poor if not totally dumb,” he said. “There’s no doubt that the majority of Saudi men dread the involvement and competition of women; it’s called intimidation and control-loss.”



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[HuffleClaw]

1. bush will call it 'terra supporting' !

or some such.

[burrowowl]

2. After Iran

we bomb Syria for 'Women of Mass Destruction'!

:sarcasm:

Fundi Christians won't allow a woman prez or vice-prez, they want them barefoot and pregnant.
However a true review of the early chuch, it was the women who kept it alive!

[beyurslf]

3. Syria has a woman in the VP office before we do....

[IndianaGreen]

4. And how are women doing in liberated Iraq and Afghanistan?

Looks like they are being forced under the veil!

[951-Riverside]

5. You forgot Bush's freedom buddy Saudi Arabia :D