Interesting post!
My name is Romeo, from Romania, coming in Bahrain in 2 weeks. I must say that with this post I’m more relaxed to come in your country. I’m coming in Bahrain to work for a student organization[AIESEC] and I wanted to get more info about youth in Bahrain, I must say that your web site helped me a lot.
If u have any tips and tricks for a European coming to Bahrain , please mail me. U will help me a lot.
Greetings from Transylvania[Romania]
Romeo

Then, you want to thank Kawthar for, “setting some things straight.” How about thanking me for setting Kawthar straight about Iran having more jews and synogogues than Bahrian ?

Did you know that Iran has a population of about 80 million while we’re less than 1 million, and only 60% of that consist of actual citizens? So of course they would exceed in number when it comes to any population, Jews or otherwise. It’s called common sense.

You obsess about numbers, and ignore the reality. Read Kawthar’s comment again. Make sure you understand what she’s saying. In sum, why should I thank you for completely missing the point of this post and its follow up comments? Why should I thank you for insisting that you are only here to “correct” me while taking pride in your lack of knowledge instead of actually engaging in dialogue? It’s making you come off as if you’re here to discredit and underestimate some great aspects of our society. I don’t appreciate your arrogance, such as the claim that you’re spewing “corrections” even though you admitted your lack of awareness of this country and its policies. If you want to engage in an educational dialogue you’re welcome to, but your mentality and holier-than-thou attitude gets annoying after the 5th comment of you claiming the same thing.

No. I am not here to discredit Arabs or Muslims. I am here because I believe in your cause; To promote mutual understanding though dialogue.

For example, I will readily admit that during the Rwandan genocide, it was christians who most often participated in the genocide. It was muslims who most often saved the lives of their neighbors.

I’m not here to discredit muslims. But, if you say, Esra’a, “We have synagogues, which have never been violated.”, then, Yes, I will call you on it. Bahrain has one synogogue, and it was burned to the ground in 1948. Now, if in your original article, you had said, ” Bahraini citizens never violated the synogogue.”, then, I wouldn’t argue with you. But you said the synogogue was NEVER violated.

Then, you want to thank Kawthar for, “setting some things straight.” How about thanking me for setting Kawthar straight about Iran having more jews and synogogues than Bahrian ?

Look, Esra’a, I like you. I like your cause. I’m glad you are proud of your country. You should be proud of your country. I am proud of my country too. If you are proud of your country, then that means you care. And you hope your country will will be the best it can be. So, Bahrain has some improving to do. America has some improving to do.

If I call into question some of your facts, it isn’t because I don’t like you. It is because I DO like you. I want you to succeed. And, I believe you will only succeed if your facts are straight.

Derek

“In 1948, many Muslims foreigners came into Bahrain and initiated massive protests over the creation of Israel; it was these foreigners, and not the Bahrainis, who caused the destruction of the local synagogue and several Jewish homes. Many Jewish families hid from the conflict in Bahraini Muslim homes, until things settled down.”

Source. Many locals can verify this info.

So I stick to my post when I said that we never violated the synagogue. Not us, not our government. The government and many people offered to chip in to help rebuild it. They are now protected and funded. Does it get any better than this? No. So your complaints are beyond me. Kawthar’s comment to yours is entirely correct and you should read and learn from it. It’s not about quantity, the fact is that the government has offered free land and support to Bahraini Jews who left the country which the locals have always respected.

FYI, ironically, you probably got the information concerning the “violation” from an article where an Arab Jew said she is happy and proud to be Bahraini, and that she was Bahraini first, before “Jewish.” Now that is a source of pride for many of us Bahrainis, and you can’t take that away with your belittling comments. Whether 3 Jews or 3 million, either way they are legally, politically and socially protected. And that matters.

Great job Kawthar on setting some things straight.

I don’t know much about Bahrain. So, when I read Esra’a's article, I was pleasantly suprised. According to her, Bahraini jews are a part of the social fabric. They are successful business owners….in the government…. According to Esra’a, there is more than one synogogue, so, there must be a large number of jewish citizens in Bahrain. And, according to her, those synogogues have never been violated. I thought, “Wow, now maybe there is an example there that other countries can follow.”

I was pleasantly suprised and I wanted to learn more. So, I did some research. Unfortunately, what I learned from my research left me feeling disappointed and misled. Esra’a was wrong, there is not more than one synogogue. There is only one synogogue. Esra’a also said it had never been violated. Yet, it was burned to the ground in 1948. I don’t know about you, but I call that violated.

Ok, Kawthar, here is my point. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but you are not entitled to your own facts. Esra’a was wrong about there being more than one synogogue, and wrong again about it never being violated. You were wrong about Bahrain being the only Gulf nation with a Jewish presence and synogogue. I believe Iran has many more Jews and many more synogogues.

The topics on Mideastyouth are important and complicated. So, it is natural that we all have differing opinions. That is fine, even great. But, it is a better discussion when our opinions are supported by facts. Facts are important.

Anyway, I didn’t mean that Esra’a intentionally misled me. I have no doubt she is a very busy woman. If I was that busy, I’m sure I’d make mistakes too. But, I felt I had to point out the factual errors. Hope that explains.

Derek

You ask some pretty good questions. I’m not from Bahrain, but I believe civil marriages aren’t permissible for Muslims, so I wouldn’t describe it as a case of religious persecution. I would label it under discrimination against women, as for the most part men are stil able to marry women belonging to different faiths.

Governments require permits for the construction of any houses of worship – including mosques – and monitors them all closely,but they often donate land and fund the construction and maintenance of houses of worship for minorites.

As for your final question, the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam is applicable only to Muslims, so we definitely do not refer to that. At MideastYouth.com we have Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Yezidi, Baha’i and non-religious authors (etc.).

I personally have my objections to the CDHRI; I don’t believe it guarantees gender equality and religious freedom.

I’m not sure where you’re going with the comment on “ONE synagogue”, but I think the number is quite proportional to the current Jewish population. Yes, the Jewish minority was driven out by threats of violence after the declaration of the state of Israel, but the current government has taken steps to rectify that.

Bahrain is the only country in the Gulf that has a Jewish presence and a synagogue. The synagoue that was destroyed in 1947 was replaced by another, and the government has stated its willingness to donate land and rebuild the destroyed synagogue.

We readily admit and condemn the mistreatment of Arab Jews over the past few decades. But given that communities in Iraq, Egypt and Morocco are all but gone, and that existing minorities in countries like Yemen are still facing threats, then I’d say yes, the Jewish minority in Bahrain is thriving, and will hopefully prosper more in the future.

The churches/hindu temple basically cater to the expatriate community in Bahrain (who represent minority of 15% I think), so I don’t see how it’s a big issue that the Hindu Temple is 60 years old.

Is there room for improvement? Definitely. Will the country make improvements? Hopefully. It just seems your comment was simply made for the purpose of objecting, and not to raise valid points.

First of all, I wanted to say I like you. I think you have a good heart. Also, I appreciate your effort to increase understanding with dialogue. Thank you. I mean that sincerely. I think we both know that we don’t often agree, but, I am grateful that YOU provide the opportunity for us to discuss complicated issues. Of course, if I disagree with your logic or facts, I feel I have a duty to correct you. I know you will correct my errors in logic or facts too. Thank you. I don’t take it personally. Now, I have a favor to ask. Will you please explain how to quote a previous message. I’m stupid. I can’t figure it out. Anyway….

Now, I have no problem with Bahrain. I don’t hear much about Bahrain in the international news. That is a good thing. That means Bahrain is peaceful. Actually, I wouldn’t mind visiting there. I don’t hear anything about crime there. In a way, Bahrain reminds me of Japan in the Middle East.

Now, to your article…

How many Bahraini citizens are there ? I did some research and I found 725,000 citizens. Is that correct ?

How many Jewish citizens ? I found 36 Jewish citizens. That ain’t much. For statistical purposes, that means, “.00005%” of Bahrain’s population is Jewish. For comparison, that would be like if the U.S.A had 15,000 Jewish citizens. Or, if there were only 300,000 jews in the entire world.

…..36 Jews in Bahrain. So, they aren’t exactly thriving are they ? They will be gone in the next one or two generations.

Next you said, “We have synagogues, which have never been violated.” Bahrain has more than one Synagogue ? I challege you to name them. I think you will find, Bahrain has only ONE Synagogue. You said they were never violated. But, in fact, the ONE Synagogue was burned to the ground in 1947. Bahrain has ONE Synagogue, and the building is empty and locked tight since 1947. Jews don’t hold service there. Esra’a, do you disagree ?

I noticed you said, “We have “over”, 7 churches.”

Wow!!! …Over 7 churches ? What’s the matter, Esra’a…You can’t count to 8 or 9 ?

One Hindu 60 year old Hindu temple ? My house is 34 years old. 60 years….not that old.

And, I like Bahrain. I applaud Bahrain’s attempt at multiculturalsim. Bahrain is arguably the most tolerent of all the Arab nations. Still, when you look at the numbers, .00005, for example…there is a lot of room for improvement.

Respectfully,

Derek

At the individual level, though, I feel that everyone is prejudiced, positively or negatively, against other types of people. It is the nature of human beings. We categorize, simplify, and label so we can process everything that comes our way. The point is that we have to be willing to acknowledge our prejudices and deal with them head on. I live in Washington, D.C. There are definite racial tensions. I’ve seen myself move my purse or lock my car door when I see a certain type of person. It’s hard for me to admit because I stand for everything that would not tolerate that, but it’s ingrained and hard to break. I just need to admit it and take control of my biases.