Tunisia’s Capital Just Got Its First Ever Female Mayor

54-year-old Souad Abderrahim just made history as the first woman to become the mayor of the capital of Tunisia, Tunis.

Souad who is also a pharmacist ran as an independent but was backed by the Islamist Ennahda (Rebirth) party – a party which seeks to separate politics from religion.

Also a former lawmaker and advocate for women’s right, she dedicated her win to women who have struggled to be in such positions.

After her victory, Abderrahim was cautious about the use of the “Islamist” label to describe herself and Ennahda, saying she wanted to work with all parties to improve Tunis.

According to NBC news, Tunisia has been the most advanced among Arab nations regarding women’s rights since gaining independence from France in 1956