A day in the life of Kurdistan's female parliament speaker - in pictures

Rewaz Faiq is one of only two women currently serving in such a role in the Middle East

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq is one of only two women serving in such a role in the Middle East, where politics is a man's world, but the Iraqi Kurdish mother of two is unfazed. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected in 2019 to the post in the country's autonomous Kurdish region. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq arrives for a parliamentary session in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Faiq is one of only two women serving in the role in the Middle East but the mother of two is unfazed. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected to the post in 2019. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiqin her office before a parliamentary session in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Faiq is one of only two women serving in the role in the Middle East but the mother of two is unfazed. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected to the post in 2019. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq, top centre, leads a parliamentary session in Erbil, the capital of Iraq's northern autonomous Kurdish region. Faiq is just one of two women serving as a parliament Speaker in the Middle East. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq, top centre, leads a parliamentary session in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq, top centre, leads a parliamentary session in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq sits with her husband and sons at their home in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Faiq is one of only two women serving in such a role in the Middle East, where politics is a man's world, but the mother of two is unfazed. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected in 2019. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq with her husband and sons at their home in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Faiq is one of only two women serving in such a role in the Middle East, where politics is a man's world, but the Iraqi Kurdish mother of two is unfazed. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected in 2019. AFP

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Rewaz Faiq, 43, poses for a picture at her home in Erbil, the capital of northern Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region. Known for her straight talk, Faiq knew she would face challenges when she was elected in 2019 to the post. AFP

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