Thailand Makes History with First Muslim Woman Cabinet Minister. A new chapter has begun in Thai politics. Prime Minister Anutin Chanthirakul has appointed prominent Muslim female politician and businesswoman Zubaida Thaiset as Minister of Culture in his new cabinet.
The appointment of a Muslim woman to a full-fledged ministerial position for the first time in Thailand’s history sends a message of greater inclusion in the country’s cultural and social policies. Analysts believe that it indicates an increase in the participation of religious minorities in the governance system.
Zubaida Thaiset’s appointment is being considered one of the most important events in recent Thai politics and culture. Prime Minister Chanthirakul’s goal is to form a diverse and inclusive cabinet, where women and minorities will be represented.
Zubaida studied higher education in the United Kingdom and obtained a law degree from Assumption University in Thailand. She also served as Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Zubayda comes from a powerful political family; her father, Chada Thaiset, was a former minister and a leading provincial politician.
Zubayda Thaiset’s appointment is seen as a significant step in addressing long-standing identity, economic and security challenges in the Muslim-majority southern region of Thailand.
The Ministry of Culture will now take on the dual responsibility of preserving heritage and the arts while also meeting the cultural needs of a new generation. It is hoped that Zubayda will be able to use her international and local experience to combine cultural diversity, linguistic diversity and tradition with modernity. Her economic experience will help expand the creative industries and cultural economy, especially cultural tourism, in Thailand’s global tourism sector.
Zubayda’s promotion sets a hugely inspiring example for Muslim women and girls in Thailand. It is evidence that gender and religious barriers are being broken down and new doors are opening for women to participate in politics.
Analysts believe that if she can successfully fulfill her duties, women’s political and administrative participation will expand further in the future and, in the long term, traditional views about women’s roles in society will change.