Khatami appoints woman as Iran's first-ever VP: Sources

Khatami appoints woman as Iran's first-ever VP: Sources

TEHRAN (DPA): President Mohammad Khatami has appointed a woman
as Iran's first-ever vice-president, informed sources disclosed
yesterday.

"(Mrs.) Massumeh Ebtekar has been appointed by Khatami as
Vice-President and head of the Environmental Organization," the
sources told the German Press Agency (DPA) in Tehran.

"This will be a turning point in Iran's post-revolution
history and Khatami's first sign of gratitude toward the women
who voted in his favor," the sources added.

Khatami gained a landslide victory in May's presidential
elections through many votes by women and the younger generation,
and had promised to grant women a wider role in Iran's executive
affairs.

"Due to Mrs. Ebtekar's successful presence in the women's
conferences in Beijing and Cairo and further due to her
educational qualifications, she had been earlier tipped as a
potential candidate of Khatami's new team," the sources said.

Ebtekar, in her late thirties, went to university in the
United States and holds a PhD degree in chemistry. She is
currently a university professor in Tehran and led the Iranian
delegation to the United Nations-sponsored World Women's
Conference in Beijing in September 1995.

Ebtekar is also a close aide to Faezeh Hashemi, the daughter
of former President Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, and represents the
new generation of modern Islamic women who -- while sticking to
Islamic values and norms -- aim at removing traditional religious
discrimination against Iranian women.

Women in Iran are obliged to wear a long coat and scarf to
hide their body contours and hair from strange men and face
discrimination due to Islamic laws on issues such as divorce,
infant rights and heritage.

There are currently 13 female MPs in the Majlis (parliament),
the highest number since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The Women
MPs have in the last few months succeeded in approving a bill for
the formation of a Women's Council within the legislative body
and also to revise the issue of female judges in Iran's mainly
male-oriented judicial system.

The morning daily newspaper Jomhuri Islami reported yesterday
that Khatami will introduce his cabinet on Sunday.

Political observers predict that the role of women in
Khatami's administration will increase at the ministerial, deputy
ministerial and general director level.