Former Shura Council member Dr. Thoraya Obaid told her story of the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Iran-Iraq war, and how she left Iraq during the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
In the first episode of the "That" program – presented by Sami Al-Jaber and shown by the Saudi channel – Dr. Thuraya spoke about important details in her life, from her birth until her access to the highest positions.
Dr. Thuraya referred to her father’s role in her career since childhood, and his assistance in her education and scholarship, and her achievement of success, saying: “My father was passionate about writing and journalism, and he believed that the voice of the Kingdom must be heard, and he chose journalism over his job in the Ministry of Agriculture, where he and his colleagues issued the first A newspaper in the Kingdom that included pictures called Riyadh, and it did not last more than a year, and he moved to Egypt and issued a magazine called “The Cry of the Arabs.” It also did not last for more than a year. Homeland".
She added that she was brought up in a house built on love, brotherhood, tolerance and solidarity, recalling her family's encouragement for her while she was studying at the boarding school in Egypt, and her father's quest for her to obtain a scholarship, pointing out that the boarding school in Egypt taught her to help others and discipline.
Dr. Thuraya touched on her life in America during her mission, and the fear of failure, because her failure to get a scholarship will close the door to studying abroad for Saudi women, but she succeeded and fulfilled her dream.
And she talked about the details of her appointment at the United Nations, and about her living in Lebanon with her husband, adding: “Kofi Annan asked me what do you bring to the United Nations Fund? I answered him that the United Nations Population Fund has a strong work program, but its content is cultural and religious, so we must link the culture of societies, changing values and human rights, ”stressing that the speech of her appointment at the United Nations was a response to the mental image of the Saudi citizen and the Saudi woman.
It is noteworthy that the "That" program hosts prominent personalities in several fields, and focuses on various aspects of the guest's personality, beginnings, and career. Last season, it achieved great successes, through its excellence in selecting guests and addressing their success stories.
Okaz (Riyadh)
