Maysa Sabreen: The Controversy of the Assignment and Confronting the Legacy of the Past at the Syrian Central Bank
December 30, 2024, 12:54 pm

Maysa Sabreen: The Controversy of the Assignment and Confronting the Legacy of the Past at the Syrian Central Bank

ميساء صابرين

The assignment of Maysa Sabreen to manage the Central Bank of Syria has sparked widespread and heated debate on social media platforms, with many users expressing their surprise and concern over this decision. The reason for this stems from the fact that Sabreen held prominent positions in the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, leading some to question the impact of her professional past on her new role.

Opinions on this assignment varied, with some viewing it as a step towards enhancing women’s representation in leadership positions within the state, while others saw it as a reminder of the policies adopted by the previous government. This divergence in perspectives has led to intense discussions regarding competence, political change, and the new government's ability to take effective measures that serve the country while overcoming the legacy of the past.

In detail, the political administration of the new Syrian government assigned Dr. Maysa Sabreen to manage the affairs of the Central Bank of Syria, replacing Mohammed Issam Hazimeh, thus making her the first woman to hold this position.

It is noteworthy that the previous regime issued decision number “1751” by Syrian Prime Minister Hussein Arnous, which assigned Maysa Sabreen, who works in the first category at the bank, to perform the duties of supervising director and member of the bank's management committee and first deputy governor.

**Who is Maysa Sabreen?**

Sabreen, who holds a Master’s degree in Accounting, has been the Director of the Government Commission Directorate at the Central Bank of Syria since October 2018. She is also the head of the Office Control Division at the bank and a member of the Board of Directors of the "Damascus Securities Exchange," representing the central bank since December 2018.

While some opinions supported the assignment of Maysa Sabreen, praising her academic qualifications and the experience she has gained throughout her career, other groups considered her appointment could tie the transitional government to the policies pursued by the previous regime. This controversy reflects the challenges faced by the new government in establishing trust with citizens alongside its commitment to enhancing transparency and reform.

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