Hadiya Khalaf Abbas (Arabic: هدیة خلف عباس, 1958 – 13 November 2021) was a Syrian politician who served as the Speaker of the People's Council of Syria from June 2016 to July 2017. She was the only woman to have held the post.[2]
Hadiya Khalaf Abbas | |
|---|---|
| هدیة خلف عباس | |
 | |
| Speaker of the People's Assembly of Syria | |
| In office 6 June 2016 – 20 July 2017 | |
| President | Bashar al-Assad |
| Preceded by | Mohammad Jihad al-Laham |
| Succeeded by | Hammouda Sabbagh |
| Member of the Central Command of the Ba'ath Party | |
| In office 22 April 2017 – 13 November 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1958 Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria |
| Died | 13 November 2021 (aged 62–63) Deir ez-Zor, Ba'athist Syria |
| Political party | Ba'ath Party |
| Alma mater | University of Aleppo[1] |
Biography and career
editAbbas was born in Deir ez-Zor Governorate in 1958 and got a doctorate in agricultural engineering from the University of Aleppo. She was also professor at the Al-Furat University.[3][4]
After the 2016 Syrian parliamentary election, Abbas was elected Speaker of the People's Council of Syrian in the first session of the chamber on 6 June 2016, becoming the first woman to reach this office. She won uncontested.[4]
On 20 July 2017, Syria's Parliament issued a resolution discharging Abbas from her post as Speaker, with a majority of member votes. Abbas was accused by some parliamentarians of "preventing some members from submitting their interposition and turning a blind eye to their willingness to discuss a number of articles according to the constitutional rules," a behavior other parliamentarians described as "irresponsible and illegal."[5] Deputy Speaker was appointed interim speaker until the voting of Hammouda Sabbagh as Abbas' successor took place on 28 September 2017.[6]
Abbas died on 13 November 2021, at the Military Hospital of Deir ez-Zor at the age of 63 after suffering a heart attack.[7]
References
edit- ^ "The death of the former Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly, Hadiya Abbas, of a heart attack". Archived from the original on 14 November 2021. Retrieved 14 November 2021.
- ^ "250 New Parliament Members Take Constitutional Oath". Syria Times. 6 June 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
- ^ Refaat, Taarek (14 November 2021). "Hadiya Khalaf Abbas was elected as the Speaker of the People's Council of Syria, becoming the first woman to hold the post". See.
- ^ a b "Syrian woman becomes first female parliament speaker". AP News. 6 June 2016.
- ^ "People's Assembly discharges Mrs. Hadyiah Abbas from her post as Speaker". 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Little-known Syrian politician elected parliament speaker". AP News. 28 September 2017.
- ^ "وفاة هدية عباس.. أول رئيسة لمجلس الشعب السوري في زمن نظام الأسد". Syria TV (in Arabic). 14 November 2021.