One of Iraq’s first female police officers appointed director in Sulaimani

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Zulfan Rahim, a veteran civil servant and one of Iraq’s first female police officers, has officially assumed the role of Director of the Nationality and Civil Status Directorate in Sulaimani on Monday, becoming one of the highest-ranking women in the province’s police administration.

“This position is a great responsibility, and I hope to continue serving the people with dedication and commitment,” Rahim told Rudaw’s Hero Rashid.

Rahim, 45, was sworn in on her first day in office as the Director of the Nationality and Civil Status Directorate. Among the first cohort of female officers in Iraq, Rahim graduated alongside 11 other women in the country’s first official academy training course for female officers in 2001. She has served as a Police Chief for the past five years, marking a cumulative total of 23 years of service in law enforcement.

“The most important improvement we can make is strengthening commitment to our duties and providing better service to citizens,” Rahim said, regarding her plans to streamline operations in her new role.

She identified inaccuracies in citizens’ electronic records as one of the main challenges she plans to rectify.

“The electronic system was implemented ten years ago. Some citizens encounter errors in their electronic records or personal information. Correcting these records requires official procedures and time, so we ask citizens to be patient while these issues are resolved,” Rahim explained.

A women’s rights activist and writer, Rahim also highlighted the importance of female representation in public service and the leadership roles of Kurdish female predecessors. 

“Kurdish women have repeatedly demonstrated that they can successfully fulfill leadership responsibilities with integrity and dedication,” she said.

Rahim hopes that more women will take on leadership positions and participate in decision-making processes.

“I hope to see more active women taking leadership roles and participating in decision-making. I wish success for women everywhere, especially Kurdish women,” she added.