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Reem Badran
Reem Badran is the sole woman to win her seat outside the quota and is the first woman to receive the highest number of votes her district. She is also the first and only woman to be elected to the Amman Chamber of Commerce, a prestigious national position. She is the head of investment development for the Arab League, formerly sat on the Jordan Investment Boardand was awarded the Business Women Award from Arabian Business Magazine in 2009. Badran is also the founder and head of the International Women’s Forum. Badran holds an MBA in international economics and Middle Eastern studies from Johns Hopkins University.
Nariman Al-Rousan
Nariman Al-Rousan is the only incumbent woman MP to win back her seat, elected under the quota in BaniKenaneh, the 5th district of Irbid. A three-time MP, Al-Rousan was a member of the 14th, 15th and now 16th sessions of the Jordanian parliament. Prior to entering politics, Al-Rousan was the head of the legal department at the Higher Council for Youth. She also served on the Olympic Committee for women and is a former member of the General Federation for Jordanian Women.
Asma Rawathyeh
Asma Rawathyeh was elected in Ma'an, representing the 3rd district of Petra. Rawathyeh ran as the official candidate for the village of Taybeh, the second largest village in her district. The rival male candidate from Taybeh withdrew midway through the campaign, endorsing Rawathyeh to ensure a greater chance for a women candidate to win and represent the community. She is a former teacher and social activist. Her main goal in the upcoming parliament is to increase the economic and employment opportunities for Petra.
Huda Abu Ruman
Huda Abu Ruman was elected from the 1st district of Balqa. A former municipal councilor, Abu Ruman is also an artist and holds a BA in social studies. She is a social activist focusing on the rights of women and children and an active member of the Jordanian National Forum for Women.
Kholoud Al-Marahleh
Kholoud Al-Marahleh was elected to represent the 1st district of Karak. A former municipal councilor, Marahleh resigned her position to run for parliament. She is the founder of the Almanshya women's charity and a member of the Jordanian National Forum for women. Marahleh is an advocate for increasing the level of volunteer work in her community.
Rodaina Al-Atti
Rodaina Al-Atti was elected to represent Russaifeh, the 4th district of Zarqa. A former municipal councilor, she is also the coordinator for the Jordanian National Forum for Women in her region. Al-Atti is a former member of the Consultancy Committee for Zarqa where she met monthly with the governor to advocate for her community. She established the Nashmiyat Al Watan community-based organization and was a participant at the 2010 International Leadership Forum in the United States.
Wafa Bani Moustafa
Wafa Bani Moustafa was elected from the governorate of Jerash. A lawyer of nine years, she is an active member of Jordan’s lawyers union. She is passionate about the issue of social violence. Bani Moustafa is the youngest women MP in the new parliament.
Dr. Amal Al Rouf'a
Dr. Amal Al-Rouf'a was elected to represent Bseira, the 2nd district of Tafileh. A former professor at Tafileh University, Al-Rouf'a is active with the Higher Council for Youth as a supervisor for young women's activities. She is also an activist on environmental issues and cultural promotion. She established the Fatima Al-Zahra Charity Association and is a member of the Jordanian National Forum for Women.
Salma Al-Rabadi
Salma Al-Rabadi was elected to the Christian minority seat in Ajloun. She is the only Christian woman to sit in the 16th parliament. A former teacher and school principal of 35 years, Al-Rabadi is one of the founding members of the Jordanian National Forum for Women. She has served on the Consultancy Committee for Ajloun and is the president of Alrabath Castel Charity, managing projects for families in poverty.
Abla Abu Olba
Abla Abu Olbeh is the first woman to be appointed secretary general of a political party and leads the Jordanian Community Party (Hash'd). She was elected to represent the 1st district of Amman. She has been a member of Hash'd since 1989 and has been active within the Palestinian community. She a founding member of the General Federation for Jordanian Women and a member of the General Federation for Palestinian women since 1985.
Dr. Samia Olimat
Dr. Samia Olimat was elected in the governorate of Mafraq. She is a well published professor and received her doctorate in youth, family and women's affairs. Olimat lectures at universities across Jordan.
Myassar Al-Sardiyah
Myassar Al-Sardiyah is the first Bedouin woman to be elected to the Jordanian Parliament. Al-Sardiyah is a journalist by profession and plans to use her new position to focus on increasing the involvement of Bedouin women in politics.
Tamam Al-Reyati
Tamam Al-Reyati was elected in the southern governorate of Aqaba. She is the former head of social services in the Family Services Department of the Ministry of Social Development. Al-Reyati has also served in the women's programs office of United Nations Relief and Works Agency where she was as a consultant and counselor with the Injaz program, a project dedicated to creating economic opportunities for Jordanian youth. She is a former teacher and a social activist passionate about supporting impoverished women and children of Aqaba.
Read more about the parliamentary elections in Jordan»
Published December 14, 2010
