Bahrain's Jewish Ambassador

Bahrain appointed a Jewish woman as ambassador to the United States in July 2008. She is believed to be the Arab world's first Jewish envoy. The selection of Houda Nonoo was made by decree.

Nonoo said she undertook her role "first of all as a Bahraini" and that she was not chosen because of her religion.

Nonoo, a businesswoman and mother of two children, has served as a legislator in Bahrain's all-appointed 40-member Shura Council for three years.

Nonoo lived in both Bahrain and London and is the first Jewish woman to head a local rights organisation, the Bahrain Human Rights Watch.

She is Bahrain's third woman ambassador – the first being appointed to France in 2000 and the second to China.

Bahrain is a predominately Shia Muslim state but has Sunni rulers who are allied to the US.

About 40 Jews live in Bahrain, where there is one synagogue. The authorities in Bahrain are currently planning to grant full citizenship rights to Jewish returnees, according to local reports.

Nonoo is a businesswoman and has served on Bahrain's Shura Council.

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