Iran President Sacks Only Female Minister
Ms Dastjerdi
Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has sacked Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid Dastjerdi, the sole woman in his cabinet, state television reports.
Ms Dastjerdi was also the first woman minister in the 30-year history of the Islamic republic.
While no reason has been given, the dismissal is being linked to her call for drug price rises to fight shortages caused by international sanctions.
Mr Ahmadinejad rejected her comments, saying her budget needs had been met..
Prior to her dismissal, Ms Dastjerdi said that because of the rise in the foreign exchange rate, there would be an inevitable increase in the price of medicine.
She complained of her department’s inability to get access to foreign currency she had been promised.
“In the first half of the current year, the Central Bank has not allocated any exchange for the import of drugs and medical equipment,” she said.
“We need $2.5bn (£1.6bn) in foreign exchange to meet the needs of the medical sector for the year, but only $650m has been earmarked.”
But President Ahmadinejad said in a TV interview that enough money had been allocated to the health ministry.
“No-one has the right to raise the price of medicine,” he added.
Mohammad Hassan Tariqat Monfared has been appointed as interim health minister.
Ms Dastjerdi was the first woman minister of the Islamic republic, although a woman did serve as vice-president for the environment under Mohammad Khatami.
AFP
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More should be sacked if they get such positions to make noise to men. In Islamic countries, noise by women in public should be limited. They can make a lot of it in their private rooms and they will get promoted but in public, check your mouth as my Nigerian brothers say. haha!
This is misogynistic society, a woman has raised her voice and raised some concerns and what does the make alpha do? sack her. Very classy my amnejad whatever your name is.