In first since revolution, Iran to appoint female ambassador

Iran is set to appoint its first female ambassador since the 1979 revolution, state-run media in the Islamic Republic reported late Monday.

The move to post Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham abroad is seen as a major step for women’s rights in a country where they still face strict restrictions in nearly all parts of their daily life.

It is not clear where Afkham will be posted, as the official announcement has not yet been made, the state-run Mehr news agency reported.

She will be just the second female to serve as ambassador in Iran’s modern history.

The first was Mehrangiz Dolatshahi, a member of the Iranian parliament who became envoy to Denmark in 1976.

Gissou Nia of the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran told The Guardian the appointment was “welcome news.”

“It is a positive step that the appointment has been made; we haven’t had a female ambassador since the 1970s but it doesn’t alleviate the ongoing concerns about pending legislation in the Iranian parliament that seeks to restrict women’s role in the public sphere,” Nia said.

Afkham previously broke a glass ceiling when she was appointed spokesperson by Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif in 2013. She was previously an aide in the ministry.

Since becoming spokesperson, Afkham, with her mandatory black hijab, has become a fixture of Iranian and international media reports, becoming among the country’s most high profile females.

President Hassan Rouhani has spoken out against gender segregation, but has yet to make any moves toward rolling back draconian laws against women, which restrict their dress and movement, among other things.

Iran is seen by the UN and US as a serial human rights abuser and has been roundly criticized for its treatment of women.