Asma Chaabi

Asma Chaabi (born 1962 in Kenitra, Morocco) is a Moroccan politician. A member of the Party of Progress and Socialism, she is the first woman ever elected mayor of an urban centre in Morocco in history. She was mayor of the city of Essaouira from 2003-2009. When she stepped down, Mrs Chaabi said she would leave politics. However, in 2016 she became a member of the national parliament. Morocco continues to have among the lowest female representation in politics in north Africa. [1]

She is the daughter of businessman Miloud Chaabi, who was the president and founder of Ynna Holding, a diversified conglomerate centred on construction and infrastructure work. Asmaa Chaabi graduated from the University of Westminster in London in 1985. As well as being a politician, a businesswoman and feminist, Mrs Chaabi is also an accomplished artist and a philanthropist.