Hadiya Khalaf Abbas
{{Short description|Syrian politician (1958–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Hadiya Khalaf Abbas
| native_name = {{nobold|هدیة خلف عباس}}
| image = Hadiya Khalaf Abbas.jpg
| president = Bashar al-Assad
| office = Speaker of the People's Assembly of Syria
| term_start = 6 June 2016
| term_end = 20 July 2017
| predecessor = Mohammad Jihad al-Laham
| successor = Hammouda Sabbagh
| office1 = Member of the Central Command of the Ba'ath Party
| term_start1 = 22 April 2017
| term_end1 = 13 November 2021
| birth_date = {{Birth year|1958}}
| birth_place = Deir ez-Zor Governorate, Syria
| death_date = {{death date and age|2021|11|13|1958|df=y}}
| death_place = Deir ez-Zor, Ba'athist Syria
| party = Ba'ath Party
| alma_mater = University of Aleppo{{Cite web|url=https://middleeast.in-24.com/News/amp/410242|title=The death of the former Speaker of the Syrian People's Assembly, Hadiya Abbas, of a heart attack|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=14 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211114121222/https://middleeast.in-24.com/News/amp/410242|url-status=dead}}
| spouse =
| nationality = Syrian
| religion=
| children =
}}
Hadiya Khalaf Abbas ({{langx|ar|هدیة خلف عباس}}, 1958 – 13 November 2021) was a Syrian politician who served as the Speaker of the People's Council of Syria from June 2016 to July 2017. She was the only woman to have held the post.{{cite news |title=250 New Parliament Members Take Constitutional Oath |url=http://syriatimes.sy/index.php/news/local/24397-250-new-parliament-members-take-constitutional-oath |publisher=Syria Times |date=6 June 2016 |accessdate=6 June 2016}}
Biography and career
Abbas was born in Deir ez-Zor Governorate in 1958 and got a doctorate in agricultural engineering from the University of Aleppo. She was also professor at the Al-Furat University.{{Cite web|url=https://see.news/syrias-1st-parliament-speaker-hadiya-abbas-dies-of-heart-attack/|title=Hadiya Khalaf Abbas was elected as the Speaker of the People's Council of Syria, becoming the first woman to hold the post.|date=14 November 2021|first=Taarek|last=Refaat|website=See}}
After the 2016 Syrian parliamentary election, Abbas was elected Speaker of the People's Council of Syrian in the first session of the chamber on 6 June 2016, becoming the first woman to reach this office. She won uncontested.{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/3711d654e0484533aabbb63690c7061c|title=Syrian woman becomes first female parliament speaker|date=6 June 2016|work=AP News}}
On 20 July 2017, Syria's Parliament issued a resolution discharging Abbas from her post as Speaker, with a majority of member votes. Abbas was accused by some parliamentarians of "preventing some members from submitting their interposition and turning a blind eye to their willingness to discuss a number of articles according to the constitutional rules," a behavior other parliamentarians described as "irresponsible and illegal."{{Cite web|url=http://sana.sy/en/?p=110480|title=People's Assembly discharges Mrs. Hadyiah Abbas from her post as Speaker|date=20 July 2017}} Deputy Speaker was appointed interim speaker until the voting of Hammouda Sabbagh as Abbas' successor took place on 28 September 2017.{{Cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/7ac9666c8064497e91f53a86f1933354|title=Little-known Syrian politician elected parliament speaker|date=28 September 2017|work=AP News}}
Abbas died on 13 November 2021, at the Military Hospital of Deir ez-Zor at the age of 63 after suffering a heart attack.{{Cite news|url=https://www.syria.tv/وفاة-هدية-عباس-أول-رئيسة-لمجلس-الشعب-السوري-في-زمن-نظام-الأسد|title=وفاة هدية عباس.. أول رئيسة لمجلس الشعب السوري في زمن نظام الأسد|date=14 November 2021|work=Syria TV|language=ar}}
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Speakers of the Parliament of Syria}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Abbas, Hadiya Khalaf}}
Category:Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party – Syria Region politicians
Category:Speakers of the People's Assembly of Syria
Category:Women legislative speakers
Category:People from Deir ez-Zor Governorate