Iran: Two female Vice Presidents appointed

Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has named two women as Vice Presidents after criticism that his proposed cabinet included no women.

Dr Laaya Joneidi has been appointed as Vice President for Legal Affairs, and Dr Masoumeh Ebtekar has been appointed as Vice President for Woman and Family Affairs. Dr Shahindokht Molaverdi has been appointed as Rouhani’s assistant on Citizenship Rights.

On 8 August, Rouhani proposed 17 men for 18 cabinet positions to parliament. Neither of the Vice Presidents nor his assistant on Citizenship Rights are members of the cabinet. Unlike ministers, nominees for the Vice President offices do not require approval by the male-dominated parliament.

Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979, Marzieh Dastjerdi is the only woman who has held a cabinet post. She served under Rouhani’s predecessor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.