Iran set to appoint first female ambassador since 1979's Islamic revolution
Marzieh Afkham is about to make history.
Afkham is set to become the head of a mission in East Asia, according to Iran's state news agency. The country Afkham will be assigned to has not been revealed, since her appointment isn't official yet.
But wherever Afkham is posted, she will be Iran's first female ambassador since the Islamic revolution in 1979, and she'll only be Iran's second female ambassador ever. (In 1976, Mehrangiz Dolatshahi became an Iranian ambassador to Denmark.)
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Iframe Code
This won't be the first time Afkham has set a new record for women's equality — she's already the first woman to serve as the spokesperson for Iran's foreign minister. Mohammad Javad Zarif appointed her as his spokeswoman in 2013. Hassan Rouhani, Iran's president, has said that it is his government's responsibility to "create equal opportunities for women."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Meghan DeMaria is a staff writer at TheWeek.com. She has previously worked for USA Today and Marie Claire.
-
Taiwan eyes Iron Dome-like defence against ChinaUnder the Radar President announces historic increase in defence spending as Chinese aggression towards autonomous island escalates
-
Political cartoons for November 30Cartoons Sunday's political cartoons include the Saudi-China relationship, MAGA spelled wrong, and more
-
Rothermere’s Telegraph takeover: ‘a right-leaning media powerhouse’Talking Point Deal gives Daily Mail and General Trust more than 50% of circulation in the UK newspaper market
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstancesSpeed Read
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2Speed Read
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governorSpeed Read
-
Los Angeles city workers stage 1-day walkout over labor conditionsSpeed Read
-
Mega Millions jackpot climbs to an estimated $1.55 billionSpeed Read
-
Bangladesh dealing with worst dengue fever outbreak on recordSpeed Read
-
Glacial outburst flooding in Juneau destroys homesSpeed Read
-
Scotland seeking 'monster hunters' to search for fabled Loch Ness creatureSpeed Read
