Afghan-Born Woman Joins Canadian Cabinet

An Afghan-born woman who came to Canada as a refugee has been sworn in as the country’s minister of democratic institutions.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau elevated parliamentary deputy Maryam Monsef to his 31-member cabinet on November 4, making her the youngest minister.

The single, 30-year-old woman says she was raised in the western city of Herat and lost her father when she was a toddler.

Monsef says she fled Afghanistan with her widowed mother and two sisters in 1996 while she was 11.

Last month, the Liberal politician became the youngest-ever member of Canada’s parliament.

Based on reporting by huffingtonpost.ca