Ikhlas Badawi, a mother of six, said she was defecting in protest at the "violence against the people".

BBC: Middle East

"There might be a few laws that might come out of this, " said Ikhlas Abdullah 56, a retired New York City school assistant principal.

WSJ: Cuomo: No deal yet on new anti-corruption measures

Ikhlas Badawi is the first member of the assembly elected in May to defect and the latest in a series of high-profile officials to cut ties with the regime.

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