Rula Ghani
Rula Ghani | |
|---|---|
 | |
| First Lady of Afghanistan | |
| Assumed office September 21, 2014 | |
| Preceded by | Zeenat Karzai |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Rula Saade 1948 |
| Nationality | Dual Lebanese and American |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | Sciences Po university, Paris American University of Beirut Columbia University of New York |
Rula Ghani (born Rula Saade; Afghan name: Bibi Gul[1]) is the current First Lady of Afghanistan and the wife of the incumbent President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani.[2] Rula Saade Ghani was born in a Lebanese Christian family. She is a dual Lebanese and American citizen, and is also an Afghan citizen.[1][3] The couple married after they met during their studies at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon during the 1970s.[4] There is no confirmation or otherwise for her conversion to Islam to marry Ashraf Ghani. Mrs. Ghani is reportedly fluent in English, French, Arabic, Pashto and Persian.
Personal life
Rula Ghani was born and raised in Lebanon. She received a diploma from Sciences Po, France in 1969.[5] She completed a master's degree in Political Studies from the American University of Beirut in 1974, where she met Ghani, and earned another master's degree in Journalism from the Columbia University, New York in 1983. She and President Ghani married in 1975 and have two children, a daughter, Mariam Ghani, a Brooklyn-based visual artist,[6] and a son, Tariq. Both were born in United States and carry US citizenship and passports.
2014 election
In an unusual move for a politician in a Afghanistan, Mr. Ghani at his presidential inauguration in 2014 publicly thanked his wife, acknowledging her with an Afghan name, Bibi Gul.[4] "I want to thank my partner, Bibi Gul, for supporting me and Afghanistan," said Mr. Ghani, looking emotional. "She has always supported Afghan women and I hope she continues to do so."[7][8]
See also
References
- ^ a b "Rula Ghani, the woman making waves as Afghanistan's new first lady". The Guardian. 7 November 2014. Retrieved 7 November 2014.
- ^ Al Arabiya: Afghan first lady in shadow of 1920s queen?
- ^ Al Arabiya: Afghanistan’s next first lady, a Christian Lebanese-American?
- ^ a b The Daily Telegraph: Ashraf Ghani inaugurated: Is Afghanistan ready for a high-profile first lady?
- ^ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/06/rula-ghani-afghan-first-lady
- ^ [1]
- ^ Wall Street Journal: Ghani Sworn In as Afghan President
- ^ Foreign Policy: The real first ladies of Afghanistan