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Bahrain Nominates Jewish Ambassador To U.S.

By Howard M. Friedman

Reuters reports today that the Muslim country of Bahrain has nominated a Jewish woman to be its ambassador to the United States. Houda Nonoo is one of only about 35 Jews who live in Bahrain. She will be the first Jewish ambassador from a modern Arab nation. Some Shi'ite Muslims in Bahrain say the appointment is a public relations ploy intended to distract attention from discrimination against the majority Shi'ites by the ruling Sunnis. Most Jews in Bahrain-- a community once numbering 600 to 1000-- trace their roots to Iraq. Most Jews in Bahrain emigrated to Israel after anti-Jewish attacks in late 1947. (Background.)

Full post as published by Religion Clause on June 08, 2008 (boomark / email).