CAIRO: Norway has appointed a 29-year-old Muslim woman as culture minister. Hadia Tajik became the country's youngest minister and first-ever Muslim Cabinet member in a Scandinavian country on Friday during the country's government reshuffle. Tajik is of Pakistani decent and was elected as a member of Parliament in 2009 for the Norwegian Labor Party representing Oslo. She had been publicizing her cultural program for the country for months ahead of her appointment, pushing cultural diversity and acceptance of Norway's multi-ethnic society in everyday life. The young woman had previously been a journalist before becoming an advisor for the Minister of Justice Knut Storberget in 2008. “During her service under Storberget the ministry of justice decided to allow police women to wear the hijab in the service, but the decision was quickly withdrawn after intense criticism from conservative parties and members of the government coalition,” al-Arabiya news network reported on her past experience. Women across Scandinavia praised the move, telling Bikyamasr.com on Sunday evening that it will help bridge the growing divide in the region concerning Muslims. “We are very excited,” began Hannah Johannsen. “Norway and this region has been battling between tradition and acceptance for many years and we are all hopeful that her appointment will help show people worried of Muslims that all Norwegians are together and united.”
