Bahrain Appoints First Jewish Ambassador
June 1st, 2008This past week saw the historic announcement of the appointment of the first Jewish ambassador from the Arab World, and Bahrain’s first female ambassador to the United States. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain appointed Huda Azra Ibrahim Nunu to serve as Bahrain’s ambassador to the US, replacing Dr. Naser M. Y. Al Belooshi, who has held the post since August 2005. The 43-year-old parliamentarian is also the first female ambassador to the US from the Arab world.
Ms. Nunu has served in Bahraini parliament for three years, and is the co-founder of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society, a human rights watchdog group — the first and only rights organization in the region led by a Jewish woman. Ms. Nunu’s family is “considered actively engaged and well integrated in business and financial activities”, with her brother Ibrahim having served in the Bahraini Shura Council — the upper house of Bahraini parliament — and her grandfather, Ibrahim Nunu, having served as the Bahraini Jewish Community’s representative under the British authorities in 1919.
Ms. Nunu’s appointment to her new diplomatic post drew some criticism in Bahrain, where some questioned King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa’s “political motives” with appointing Ms. Nunu, however, officials were quick to put such concerns to rest:
“This is not a public relations move,” the official told AFP, referring to the expected naming soon of Huda Nunu as the Gulf kingdom’s ambassador to Washington. The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said King Hamad informed US officials during a visit to Washington in March of Bahrain’s intention to name Nunu…
“This move is not propaganda. It reflects a climate of tolerance towards minorities in Bahrain,” which is ruled by a Sunni dynasty and has a disgruntled Shiite majority…
“Nunu’s appointment stresses the seriousness of Bahrain’s reform policies … It shows that Bahrain does not differentiate between men and women in public offices and does not discriminate against citizens on the bases of their beliefs,” the official said.
Is Bahrain blazing a trail towards interfaith coexistence and unity? Bahrain’s capital boasts the only synagogue in the Persian Gulf region and Bahrain’s tiny Jewish community — numbering no more than 40 — have been “well-represented” in some spheres of Bahrain’s business community. Ms. Nunu, speaking to the Jerusalem Post, related how her family was observant of some Jewish holidays and her appointment comes amidst talk of granting “full citizenship” to Jewish returnees to Bahrain.
Ms. Nunu said she was proud to serve her country “first of all as a Bahraini”, and said that religion played no part in her selection:
“I am excited to be appointed as the first female ambassador to the U.S. I am going to take up key humanitarian issues and the entire community is delighted after the decision. I don’t think religion played a part, as I am a Bahraini.”
I wish Ms. Nunu all the best in her endeavors, and may Bahrain continue on its path to religious tolerance. Any place working towards becoming a place which truly does “not discriminate on the basis of belief” should be commended for its efforts, and Bahrain is no exception. May all of Bahrain’s Jews — only about seven families — benefit from the interfaith tolerance exhibited by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in his historic envoy selection, and may religious discrimination be relegated to Bahrain’s past, with all of Bahrain’s citizens living in a future of coexistence.
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Excellent article, Y-Love. This is causing a lot of controversy here in Bahrain, and even the Bahrain Center for Human Rights expressed some concern over this, noting:
But I have no doubt that Ms. Nunu wants nothing but good things for the Bahraini people and will do a great job being a leader in such a powerful position.
It is a good thing happening in Middle East, women amabssadors, woman from religious minorities representing a country, I am sure these initial steps lead to moves which will have a good effect on human rights status as well. Viva Bahran and Bahraini people
I think its great that Bahrain is the only country moving in this direction. Nunu or not. This family has been in Bahrain for a while and as a Bahraini I am proud to have her and not a Belooshi as an ambassador because it DOES say things about Bahrain even though it could be interpreted negatively by some. What isn’t?
Now the Shiites can’t say that Bahrain should first tend to Shiites and then women.. obviously Bahrain is moving in a direction where finally you can do what you want through “what” you know and not “who” you know- she got this because she was the right person for it. YAY TO NUNU!
Shiites include women… or do you think Shiite women are another gender?
She runs a GONGO… geee wonder how she got this job… ohh ohh could it be… naa… ya probably…
Ehh… didn’t your racist country ban all Bangladeshis recently?
Nice to hear something positive today. Hoping that the people of Bahrain will come to accept this development and even embrace it…
Let’s not be quick to put down baby steps towards reform.
I see this as a positive step
i can’t c wut this got to do with going in the right direction!!!!! so each country now must appoint a jew to be going in the right direction??? yah i know some of you will say its someone from religious minorities, but this is the wrong person in the wrong position…ok let c if USA will do the same and appoint a muslim-american in the same position to any arabic country!!!!why its fine to show discrimination against muslims and not even allow them to be part of the goverment in US…most of you saw in the last few months during the presidential campaigns how ppl reacted againt obama or others if they had links with islamic communities, as if its a sickness!!!!!!!its funny how they always use the same term democracy and human rights to their best interest.
I respect the women and her long service to the country. I don’t have a problem with her religious. It’s just bahrain as a muslim country and with islamic heritage must appoint a person who best serve all this. Especially for USA where most ppl see things through their own media with narrow vision and not knowing about the out side world, it is important to put someone who will present the right perception about islam to the american communities and show that how good we are.
She is of arab/jewish cultural background.
To say that americns only see things narrowly is false because we have access to so much media, internet, icluding al jazeera. We are multicultural in the extreme. Tell me about Bahrain?
Hmm… majority in the US can’t even spot their own state or city on the map. Just because you have access doesn’t mean it is used. TV is filled with half naked chicks and corporations selling their products. Internet is filled with porn and games and trashy pop culture that has nothing to do with Adel’s comment. In the US media, if you critize the US government or US action, you are taken off air. A woman wears a scarf that resembles something everday Arab wear on an ad and the open minded Americans force the company to pull that ad because it somehow supports terrorism. Racism, bigotry and close mindedness in action.
Hmmm… not really, majority are assimilated into a single collective. Having different skin colour and ethnicity doesn’t make a nation “multicultural” Practicing the culture makes a nation multicultural. But, US maybe the most multicultural country int he West, but hardly extreme compared with some other countries in the world. For a country like Bahrain with such small population, it is more multicultural than USofA.
Who cares if Bahrain is a muslim country. It is also an arab country which means that Ms. Nunu (as an arab) is perfectly qualified to best serve her fellow arab country men/women. YOur logic is ridiculous. And weren’t 2 muslims recently elected in the US. One was Keith Ellison, an AFrican american muslim. He was elected by a state with an overwhelming Christian and white majority. And there was another one as well, but I can’t remember the name. So basically, using your logic these 2 individuals should not have been elected or appointed. Because America is a country with a Christian (in name only or actually practicing) majority and these muslims by virtue of their religion cannot serve the interests of the American peoples. Ridiculous
The fact that you’re even complaining about a member of a religious minority being appointed in your country (because they cannot best serve the people) and than saying “XYZ countries don’t appoint religious minorities” makes no sense whatsoever
I agree entirely with anon. The idea that no person can represent a country because of their faith or status is the reason why many Arab and Muslim countries are backwards in the first place. This is a good step in empowering minorities in primarily Muslim countries. Diversity is beautiful.
The first Arab goverment who contained Jews state men was the Tunisian goverment of 1957. At that time two ministers and more than one deputy were Jews.
Those guys are Tunisian Nationalists, they participated to the fight against the French colonialism in Tunisia. And they were highly skilled and competent. That’s why they were shoosen and involved in the goverment.
I am pleased to see this choice which reflects the acceptance and tolerance of diversity within Bahrain. I agree with Esra that it should be seen as a positive step for all minorities in Bahrain.
Jina, I am from the US and I do agree with much of what you say. There is still much work to be done here in increasing tolerance. The average US citizen is absolutely dependent on the media for news and does not question what is reported an looks no further for information. I prefer to get my analysis from Stratfor, an independent think tank, and to read from excellent sources such as this one. I teach school, and not only are the students uninformed and misinformed, but so are most of the teachers. Education (in general) in the US—and perhaps elsewhere—is watered down and inadequate.
I will say that there are ongoing efforts in the schools to go beyond just acceptance of differences between groups to actually celebrating and respecting them. Acceptance is in itself a huge accomplishment because people can live in safety and a degree of comfort that is perhaps taken for granted here in the US at the present. Still, much needs to be done to improve.
[...] recently came across an article in mideast youth about a lady called Ms. Huda Azra Ibrahim Nunu who has been appointed as Kingdom’s ambassador [...]