James Downer

Deputy Ambassador, British Embassy Baghdad. Former Deputy Consul General Jerusalem.

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

@FadyJoudah @guardian Thanks for sharing this. Was the poem written in English? Is there an Arabic version?

[Dr. Éléonore Cellard @CellardEleonore]

A miniature leaf-shaped mushaf from the 16th century, copied in Agra in Mughal India. #magnificentmushaf
[@Sothebys Arts of the Islamic World, 24th April 2024, lot 35]

[Foreign Affairs @ForeignAffairs]

“To live in peace, Israel will have to finally come to terms with the Palestinians, and that is something Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed throughout his career,” writes @alufbenn.
https://t.co/06KMLu5feF

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

@yesar ألف مبروك!

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

@BrandtMarieke Hi Marieke. Great book and I thoroughly recommend it. I was looking forward to reading “Tale of a Feud” also but the hardcover price is prohibitive. Will there be a paperback or ebook version?

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

بالتوفيق إن شاء الله يا فريزر. كيفك يا أستاذ؟

[Fraser M @FraserMcD_FCDO]

After a year of learning Arabic, it was great to have my first in-person lesson today with my fantastic (and incredibly patient) teacher! شكراً!

[Maria Luisa Fantappie @MariaFantappie]

What are the 10 qualities of an #EU diplomat in Brussels?

Fernando Gentilini and I try to answer 👇👇 🧵

https://t.co/EKuauNHGyF

[Liam Parfitt @FreyaloggingInc]

@SarahLouMiller It's about not giving up in the face of certain defeat.

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

Brilliant. The foundation of civilisation, whatever you call it.

[Trung Phan @TrungTPhan]

“Cha" and "te" are both Chinese words for tea. If a territory came into contact with the drink by:

• The Silk Road = "cha"
• Sea shipping routes (starting with Dutch traders) = "tea"

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

عيد مبارك للأصدقاء المسلمين. كل عام وأنتم بخير.

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

Sounds like a memorable meeting. Will adjust the style of my readouts.

[Kiran Stacey @kiranstacey]

This is how all diplomatic readouts should read. https://t.co/iPaCkMNVJp

[Bletchley Park @bletchleypark]

111 years ago #OnThisDay, 23 June 1912, Alan Turing was born.

#Turing joined Bletchley Park in Sept 1939 & later became Head of Hut 8.

Hut 8 tackled German naval #Enigma, with the first break into the main naval Enigma, codenamed #Dolphin, in early 1941.

#Pride #PrideMonth

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

Your last book was great, Marieke, so looking forward to this one. How about a synopsis?

[Marieke Brandt @BrandtMarieke]

Darlings, is there any better day in a scholar's life than First Proofs Day?? NO!!!
@Brill_ME_Africa #Yemen #LifeWriting

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

Thank you Hagai for what you have done for the human rights of Palestinians and Israelis.

[Hagai El-Ad חגי אלעד حجاي إلعاد @HagaiElAd]

Tomorrow is my final day at @btselem. This morning I went to Ramallah, to bid farewell to @SJabaren and colleagues at @alhaq_org. I have nothing but the utmost respect to Al-Haq's perseverance, tenacity, and professionalism in the face of Israel’s oppression.

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

Cheers, Mr Burt sr. All the best.

[Rt Hon Alistair Burt @AlistairBurtUK]

Reading many of the stories today, I sometimes think I’m one of the luckiest men alive. I still have my Dad. 101, and loved as a family doctor in Bury as much as he is by his family. Perhaps, says the RAF, their oldest living medic. Happy Fathers Day, dad! God bless you. 💕

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

@matt_boot_ I assumed it meant “he started living when he saw you”, ie life without you is meaningless or at least bland. Along the lines of “I’ve missed you”. Or like نوّرتنا. But that’s just me.

[Tom Holland @holland_tom]

My kind of parenting

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

ما شاء الله! شو حلو!

[Bayt Al Fann @BaytAlFann]

Calligraffiti is an artform that combines calligraphy & graffiti. It is an aesthetic experience & provocation—mixing tradition with self-expression. Calligraffiti is an urban art as much as it is a gallery art & is used to reclaim space

A thread on Arabic Calligraffiti Artists…

[James Downer @jdownerfcdo]

@AliBaroodi Ali, I’m glad you’ve rediscovered the joys of translation.

[Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis @chiefrabbi]

The Chief Rabbi and Lady Mirvis enjoy a Havdalah ceremony after an extraordinary Shabbat, thanks to their gracious hosts, Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla.