Syrian actress Ruzina Lazkani appointed to Damascus parliament

DAMASCUS, Syria — Syria's Higher Election Committee announced that President Ahmed al-Sharaa completed the membership of the People's Assembly by appointing 70 lawmakers to fill the one-third complementary quota. The appointments follow the directly elected members of the 210-seat chamber, finalizing its current composition. Among those named to the complementary list was Ruzina Lazkani, a graduate of the Damascus Higher Institute of Theatrical Arts who began her acting career in 2013 and is known for Syrian and Arab drama productions including "Al-Hayba," "Walad Badi'a," "Murabba' al-'Izz," "Shawk" and "Taht al-Ard: Mawsim Har." The committee said the appointments were intended to reflect academic, professional and social diversity, with attention to strengthening women's representation. The Higher Election Committee said 14 of the 70 appointed members are women, representing roughly one-fifth of the complementary quota. Other women appointed alongside Lazkani include Isra Zuheir al-Mashour, Hanan Ibrahim al-Balhi, Dawwa Abdulhamid al-Ahdab, Semie Murad Murad, Samira Ayman, Aisha Muhammad Fahd al-Debs, Lara Fathi Kadeed, Madonna Suhayl Beshara, Marwat Muhammad Subhi Toto, Najwa Bahjat Qasas, Huda Abdulbasit Atasi, Fatima Abdullatif al-Yusuf and Fatima Muhammad Haydar.