The new Syrian authorities have tasked a central bank official, Maysaa Sabrine, with "managing affairs" at the institution, marking an unprecedented appointment for a woman to this position, an internal source told AFP on Tuesday.
This financial expert, who had served as the first deputy governor of the Syrian central bank since 2018, began her role on Tuesday as "acting governor in charge of managing current affairs," according to a central bank official who requested anonymity.
This appointment by the new leadership dominated by the Islamists of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), in a country undergoing transition since the fall of Bashar al-Assad on December 8, is a first for a woman.
It comes just days after controversial remarks by the head of the Women's Affairs Bureau sparked outrage. In an interview with Turkey’s TRT television about the "space" to be granted to feminist organizations in Syria, Aicha al-Debs urged women "not to exceed the priorities of their God-given nature," namely "their educational role within the family."
On Sunday, seemingly to calm the backlash, Syrian Foreign Minister Assaad al-Chibani stated on X that the authorities "will stand by women and fully support their rights."
"We believe in the active role of women in society and have confidence in their capabilities and skills," he added.
The exchange rate of the Syrian pound remains one of the most significant financial challenges in Syria, following a collapse in its value against the dollar during the 13 years of war.
Before the conflict began in 2011, the dollar traded at around 50 Syrian pounds. Today, the exchange rate ranges between approximately 12,000 and 15,000 pounds per dollar.
With AFP
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