For the first time in the 30-year history of the Islamic Republic, the Iranian cabinet will have a female minister. Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi won the approval from the Parliament to become the health minister. She was one of 18 nominations for President Ahmadinejad’s new cabinet to be approved. Two other women were among three rejected nominees. While I am happy to see a woman break a gender barrier, the victory is hollow due to Dastjerdi’s extremely conservative credentials. Dastjerdi, in the past, has proposed introducing segregated health care in Iran, with women treating women and men treating men. Moreover, as noted in the Open Democracy blog, Iran: Players or Pawns?:
The appointment of these women thus fits into a broader picture of a nomination process largely based on loyalty to the president rather than merit. Young and inexperienced by ministerial standards, these women will owe Ahmadinejad a huge political debt if approved for their posts. Even in the improbable scenario that they ever assume their roles in the cabinet, it seems likely that their efforts will be focused on advancing Ahmadinejad’s interests rather than those of Iranian women.
I still believe that her victory is an important step for the Iranian women. Next time a woman is nominated for minister in Iran, she will not have to listen to spurious arguments about “religious uncertainties surrounding the limits of women’s abilities.” But now we know what Sarah Palin’s victory would have felt like.
Photo taken from the AFP.
