Baghdad has named its first female mayor, a government spokesman said Saturday.
AFP reported that Zekra Al Wash, a civil engineer and director general of the ministry of higher education, is the first woman to be given such a post in Iraq. Women’s rights in the country are thought to be lacking by many international rights groups.
The position will mean that Al Wash will be dealing with Prime Minister Haider Al Abadi directly.
The former mayor Naim Aboud was sacked and the prime minister named Al Wash as his successor.
She will begin begin work on Sunday.
