Huda Nono. Gets replacement
Photo: AP
Bahrain names Jewish woman to parliament
King Hamad appoints Nancy Khadhori after fellow Jew, Huda Nono, leaves house to take role of country's US ambassador
King Hamad of Bahrain on Thursday appointed a Jew and a Christian among four women to the 40-member upper chamber, following a parliamentary election last month, state media reported.
The king kept 30 members of the outgoing Shura, or consultative, council including the speaker, Ali Saleh al-Saleh, according to a royal decree published by BNA news agency.
Nancy Khadhori joined the chamber after a fellow Jew, Huda Nono, left the house to take the role of Bahrain's ambassador to the United States.
"I am very happy to receive the royal trust. I hope I will be up to the responsibility," said Khadhori, one of only 37 Bahraini Jews who originated from Iraq.
Meanwhile, Hala Qarrisah entered the house as fellow Christian Alice Samaan, who was deputy head of the council, exited the parliament.
Bahrain's Christian community numbers around 1,000.
The Shiite opposition emerged as the largest single bloc in Bahrain's lower chamber following the parliamentary election on October 23.
The Shura Council has the authority to over-rule parliamentary decisions in the Shiite-majority archipelago which is ruled by a Sunni dynasty.
- Follow Ynetnews on Facebook
