ERBIL, Kurdistan Region – A woman has been named president of Halabja University as the city once again leads the way for women in power positions in the Kurdistan Region.
Dr. Mahabad Kamil Abdullah will “assume the post this week,” she confirmed to Rudaw on Saturday. She specializes in the Kurdish language and has been teaching at universities in the Kurdistan Region for 23 years. She was most recently general manager of Sulaimani University Central Library.
Kurdistan Regional Prime Minister Masrour Barzani named her president in a decree on September 26, making her the third woman to hold a top position in the province. Nuxsha Nasih is mayor of Halabja and Kwestan Sheikh Akram is head of the municipality.
"It is not just a coincidence that women hold top positions in Halabja. It has historically been case," mayor Nasih told Rudaw English. “Women have played influential roles across all sectors in Halabja and it is a reflection of the important background of women in the city."
"We have strong examples of successful women who had held posts in the past such Adela Khanum,” she added.
Khanum was the first female mayor of Halabja and held the post from 1909 until her death in 1924. Under her rule, culture and literature flourished and Halabja rose in fame.
Abdullah said her elevation to the job is a victory for all women. "I do not consider this post as belonging to me, but all Kurdish women. My success in this position is the success of all women in Kurdistan," she said.
Mayor Nasih also attributed the growing role of women in the province to the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), which has “paved the way” for women to assume decision-making positions in Halabja.
"Our holding such posts in Halabja is because of the strong support we receive from the PUK as we have been appointed to such roles on the list of the PUK in the province," she said.
Halabja University was founded in 2011. The current interim president, Dr. Dana Abdulla, will assume the post of vice president for scientific affairs. "I had taken the position temporarily. We are welcoming anyone who is to become the president," he said.
The new president said her goal will be to "improve the ranking of the Halabja University in terms of science. This could be done through improving scientific research and digitizing the university."
Updated at 10:46 pm
