Actor, Engineer, Extremist's Widow Among Syria's New Women MPs

With 15 of the women appointed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the lineup likely reflects the new authorities' keenness to demonstrate inclusivity following criticism that women and minorities have been under-represented in the country's post-war transition.

In Syria's first post-Assad parliament, women lawmakers stand out more for their diversity than their numbers: a famous actress, a Christian engineer, a Kurdish leader and the widow of a hardline Islamist commander. Women hold 22 of the 207 current seats in Syria's parliament, or just over 10 percent, s