Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
1st Emir of Bahrain
13th Hakim of Bahrain
Isa bin Salman in 1998
Reign 2 November 1961 – 6 March 1999
Coronation 16 December 1961
Predecessor Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Successor Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
Born (1931-06-03)3 June 1931
Jasra, Bahrain
Died 6 March 1999(1999-03-06) (aged 67)
Manama, Bahrain
Burial Al Rifa'a Cemetery
Spouse Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa
Issue King Hamad
Sheikh Rashed
Sheikh Mohammed
Sheikh Abdullah
Sheikh Ali
Sheika Munira
Sheika Maryam
Sheika Shaikha
Sheika Nora
House Al Khalifa
Father Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Mother Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa
Religion Sunni Islam

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة‎; 3 June 1931 – 6 March 1999) was the first emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death. Born in Jasra, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman ibn Hamad.

Early life and Reign

Isa was born in Jasra to Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa, and succeeded his father as emir upon his death.

His reign began in December 1961 when his father Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa died in November.[1][2] His mother was Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa. Isa visited Ayetollah Mohsin Al Hakim in Najaf in 1968 to indicate his keenness to reinforce relationships with the Shia.[3]

His term saw Bahrain gain its independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.[4] While the government initially considered joining the United Arab Emirates, Isa had his country withdraw (along with Qatar) over his dissatisfaction with the proposed constitution . He then attempted to introduce a moderate form of parliamentary democracy, and men (though not women) were given the vote in parliamentary elections in 1973.[5] In August 1975, however, he dissolved Parliament because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974.[6] The parliamentary system was never restored and forced the emir to contend with occasional protests from the leftist and Islamist camps, which reached their peak in 1994 (see: History of Bahrain).

During his reign there was an arrangement between him and his brother Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman.[7] Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, whereas Sheikh Khalifa involved in controlling the government and economy as prime minister.[7]

Marriage and children

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa had one wife, his cousin Sheikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa (1933–2009). They married on 8 May 1949. They had six sons and six daughters:

  • King Hamad
  • Sheikh Rashed (Died on 17 December 2010)
  • Sheikh Mohamed (Commander of the National Guard)
  • Sheikh Abdullah (Vice President of the Higher Committee for the Horseback riding club)
  • Sheikh Ali (Minister of the Royal Court Affairs)
  • Sheikha Munira
  • Sheikha Maryam
  • Sheikha Shaikha
  • Sheikha Noura

Legacy and death

During his 38 years as Emir, the economic transformation of Bahrain into a modern nation and a key financial center in the Persian Gulf area took place. Nevertheless, critics note that he also dissolved Parliament, giving absolute power to the royal family.

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa died of a heart attack on 6 March 1999 at the al Sakhir Palace in Manama shortly after his meeting with the United States defense secretary William Cohen.[8] He was 67.[4] The last programme he attended was the Funeral of King Hussein, which was less than a month before his death.

US President Bill Clinton expressed "deep sadness" at the news of the emir's death calling him "a good friend of peace." UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also expressed "great sadness," and described the emir as "a force for stability" in the region. Emir was buried at the Al-Rifa'a cemetery.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[8]

Foreign honors

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa was awarded :[9]

Titles

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bernard Reich (1990). Political leaders of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa: a biographical dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 528. ISBN 978-0-313-26213-5. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. ↑ "Chronology for Shi'is in Bahrain". UNHCR. 2004. Retrieved 13 September 2014.
  3. ↑ Al Jimri, Mansoor (November 2010). "Shia and the State in Bahrain" (PDF). Alternative Politics (1). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2013.
  4. 1 2 Jehl, Douglas (7 March 1999). "Sheik Isa, 65, Emir of Bahrain Who Built Non-Oil Economy". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  5. ↑ Wright, Stephen (June 2006). "Generational change" (PDF). Durham Middle East Papers. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  6. ↑ "Democratic test ended". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Manama. AP. 28 August 1975. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  7. 1 2 Wright, Steven (2008). "Fixing the Kingdom: Political Evolution and Socio-Economic Challenges in Bahrain" (PDF). CIRS. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  8. 1 2 "Bahrain's ninth al Khalifa". BBC. 6 March 1999. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  9. ↑ "The Al Khalifa Dynasty". Royal Ark. Retrieved 10 April 2013.
  10. ↑ "Boletín Oficial del Estado" (PDF). Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  11. ↑ "1995 National Orders awards". INFO. 18 September 2012. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  12. ↑ "Badraie". Badraie. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  13. ↑ "Badraie". Retrieved 20 June 2014.
  • Lawson, Fred (1990). "Isa bin Sulman Al Khalifah". In Bernard Reich. Political Leaders of the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa: A Biographical Dictionary. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 267–271. ISBN 978-0-313-26213-5.
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa		 Emir of Bahrain
1961–1999		 Succeeded by
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
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