Bayan Zahran

A website has named Saudi lawyer Bayan Mahmoud Zahran as the world’s most influential woman for 2014.

Buzzfeed cited Zahran’s successful venture in opening the Kingdom’s first female law firm for assigning her the top position among the world’s 15 most influential women in 2014.

The law firm was opened in January this year and was lauded as a brave attempt at breaching the social barrier.

Her efforts in demanding legal rights for her and her colleagues to work in the law field made her an international figure and earned her the title of most influential woman in 2014. Zahran made it her mission to defend the rights of underrepresented women in Saudi courts. Determined to make a difference, she sought to have local and international participation in resolving significant women’s issues which were often complicated.

In a statement to Sabq website, Zahran said she would not have been able to be on that list if it weren’t for the support and leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah. “He has shown great keenness, support and follow-up on women’s issues and in the interests of all citizens,” she said.

She added that her work in the legal field is her way of showing gratitude to her homeland and trying to pay society back by giving women social support and legal services they need.

Zahran pointed out that some of the challenges she faces in her work are related to the stereotypical mindset of the workers in the field. “The courts and government departments have been dominated by men for such a long time that they have begun to believe that they are better at the job,” she explained. She added that this has made women take a backseat and become lax in demanding their right to work in this field.

“The Kingdom’s constitution which is based on the Islamic Shariah states that all citizens are equal regardless of gender, color and religion,” Zahran pointed out, saying that the current development in the judiciary is due to the King Abdullah project to develop the judicial system and the faithful employees who are working on implementing the project.

“More than the title, I’m happy to see my country developing and living in peace and harmony,” Zahran concluded.

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