For first time, Qatar to appoint women to Shura Council

Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Thursday issued a royal decree appointing 28 new Shura Council members, including -- for the first time in the country's history -- four women.

The four women to be appointed are Hessa al-Jaber, a former information minister; Aisha Yousef al-Mannai, director of Doha's Muhammad Bin Hamad Al Thani Center; Hind al-Miftah, vice-president of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies; and Reem al-Mansoori, an official at the Transport Ministry's Digital Society Development Sector.

Qatar's 45-member Shura Council is responsible for debating draft legislation that has already been approved by the country's cabinet, along with political, economic and administrative aspects of state policy.

Council members also have the right to question cabinet members on policy issues.