Maryam Monsef, Personal Computer Member of Parliament is a Canadian politician.
Background
Monsef was born in Afghanistan where she lived with her family in Herat. Her father died in unclear circumstances when Monsef was a toddler. Commenting on the incident, she remarked that "he most we know is he was caught in a crossfire between the border of Iran and Afghanistan." Her uncle had, years earlier, vanished along with several roommates while attending the University of Kabul, in circumstances suggested to have been connected to anti-communist political activity.
Career
She was elected to represent the Riding of Peterborough—Kawartha as a Liberal member the House of Commons of Canada in 2015. On November 4, 2015, she was sworn into the 29th Canadian Ministry as Minister of Democratic Institutions in the federal Cabinet, headed by Justin Trudeau. In 1996, when Monsef was 11, her mother opted to move the family to Canada.
The journey involved traveling through Iran, Pakistan, and Jordan.
Upon arrival, the family took up residence in Peterborough, where Monsef"s uncle already lived. Monsef has continued to raise money for humanitarian activities in Afghanistan.
Monsef graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor of Science in psychology. Politics
She ran for mayor of Peterborough in 2014, finishing a close second.
Later that same year, she was chosen to represent the Liberal Party in the upcoming federal election.
She was elected on October 19, 2015 with 43.8% of the vote. Monsef is the first Canadian Member of Parliament to have been born in Afghanistan. Monsef was appointed as Minister of Democratic Institutions in Justin Trudeau"s Cabinet on November 4, 2015.
She is the fourth-youngest Canadian minister ever appointed to the Cabinet.
Other websites claim she"s the second-youngest. According to The Hill Times, Monsef has been named President of the Queen"s Privy Council in Canada although it is not clear whether she has yet been sworn in to that office.
Monsef has described this position as "largely ceremonial.".