Iranian President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad has included three women in his cabinet selections in an attempt to soften his hardline image and appease many reformists.
Fatemeh Ajorlou as been appointed as Social Welfare minister and Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi has been made health minister, the third female's name and position are yet to be announced.
President Ahmadinejad said in a state-tv appearance that his cabinet reflected " a new era" and that he had made "major changes" in the make-up of his government.
Despite Mr Ahmadinejad's intentions to recognise the increased political clout of women in Iran and appease supporters of reformist candidates, his plan is unlikely to be successful. Both women are considered to be hardliners and are generally disliked by reformists. The two women are in support of repressive restrictions on women's rights, including making it more difficult for women to get divorced, have custody of their children and have an abortion.
Fatemeh Ajorlou, Social Welfare minister, is an outspoken advocate of chador, the head-to-toe Islamic cover, and is strongly in favour of strict punishment for women who fail to observe Iran's strict dress code. Ajorlou is well-known for her involvement with the Revolutionary Guard and Basij milita and says that Western societies have lost their morality due to women focusing on careers rather than family. She is also a keen supporter of a draft law proposing positive discrimination for men in attending universities.
Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi is seen by many as a suitable candidate for health minister, spending most of her career in the medical profession and specialising in women's infertility. However, as an MP, she opposed the adoption of a bill facilitating Iran to join the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
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