15+ Remarkable Muslim Women Leaders {Resource}
In modern history, the Muslim world has placed over 15 women in a leadership role, as the head of their country. Below, I list these remarkable women, in alphabetical order.
This post is part of a Multicultural Kid Blog’s Women’s History Month Blog Hop. Please be sure to stop by the other blogs to learn more about women around the world.
In 2020, America has a strong female presidential candidate, Elizabeth Warren, with a plan for everything. She is smart, has great comedic timing, very healthy (having released her health records), has a proven track record of voting fairly, and is fantastic to watch in a debate.
Yet America is reluctant to elect her. There are various reasons, including misogyny in the misguided belief that old white men are still the answer, despite the last few having caused major negative events in American history (an Iraq War and two Impeachments).
This election will be the first that my eldest daughter will be able to vote in, and I excited to talk to her about the possibility of her voting for an American female President. I wanted to share with her the number of times a Muslim country has had a female placed into their highest office.
Muslim Women Presidents
In a Muslim majority country, there have been six female Presidents:
- Ameenah Gurib was President of Mauritius from 2015 to 2018
- Atifete Jahjaga was President of Kosovo from 2011 to 2016
- Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was Acting President of Mauritius in 2012 & 2015
- Roza Otunbayeva was President of Kyrgyzstan from 2010 to 2011
- Megawati Sukarnoputri was President of Indonesia from 2001 to 2004
- Haliman Yacob is the current President of Singapore from 2017
Muslim Women Vice Presidents
There have been three Vice Presidents that have helped ruled over a Muslim majority country:
- Monique Ohsan Bellepeau was the Vice President of Mauritius from 2010 to 2016
- Masoumeh Ebtekar is the current Vice President of Iran from 2017
- Megawati Sukarnoputri was Vice President of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001
Muslim Women Prime Ministers
In a Muslim majority country, there have been eleven times a woman has held that position:
- Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1988 to 1990
- Benazir Bhutto was Prime Minister of Pakistan from 1993 to 1996
- Mame Madior Boye was Prime Minister of Senegal from 2001 to 2002
- Tansu Çiller was Prime Minister of Turkey from 1993 to 1995
- Sibel Siber was Prime Minister of Northern Cyprus from 2013 to 2013
- Cissé Mariam Kaïdama Sidibé was Prime Minister of Mali from 2011 to 2012
- Aminata Touré was Prime Minister of Senegal from 2013 to 2014
- Sheikh Hasina Wajed was Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001
- Sheikh Hasina Wajed is the current Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 2009
- Khaleda Zia was Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 1991 to 1996
- Khaleda Zia was Prime Minister of Bangladesh from 2001 to 2006
It is interesting to note that in every category, there is still a Muslim woman leader that is currently still acting in that position.
While some many argue that American first needs a woman Vice President before it can have a woman President, I would like to point out that we already have had highly qualified women that have run twice to do the job of President, why take a step backwards?
Whether Elizabeth Warren advances to the presidential party nomination will be up thousands of voters across America deciding on the primary. I know for the future of my daughters, I will be voting for her to advance.
The question then is: are Americans ready for a woman to Dream Big and Fight Hard to bring dignity back to the White House? They should, because Elizabeth Warren has a plan for it.
XxXxX
If you enjoyed finding out about these remarkable Muslim women leaders, be sure to check out these posts:
8 Remarkable Arab Women Artists {Resource}
20+ Remarkable Muslims Children Books {Resource}
Stop by ACraftyArab on Pinterest to see more educational posts that teach about the Arab culture and Muslim world.
Join us for our annual Women’s History Month blog hop, celebrating the contributions and accomplishments of women around the world! Don’t miss our series from last year, 2018, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and find even more posts on our Women’s History board on Pinterest: Follow Multicultural Kid Blogs’s board Women’s History on Pinterest.
