Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa

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Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Template:Langx; 3 June 1933 – 6 March 1999) was a Bahraini royal who served as the first Emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death in 1999 (after having previously ruled as Hakim of Bahrain until 16 August 1971).

Born in Jasra, Bahrain, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.

Early life and reign

Ronald and Nancy Reagan with Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa before the state dinner, 1983

Isa was born in Jasra to Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa (1933-2009), the daughter of Hamad ibn Abdullah Al Khalifa, and succeeded his father as emir upon his death in November 1961. He was installed on 16 December.<ref name=Reich1990>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Isa visited Ayetollah Mohsin Al Hakim in Najaf in 1968 to indicate his keenness to reinforce relationships with the Shia.<ref name=alj2010nov>Template:Cite journal</ref>

Mohammad Mosaddak Ali with Emir of Bahrain Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa at the Kings Palace in Bahrain in 1994

During his reign, Bahrain gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971.<ref name=jehl7mar/> 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 Template:Citation needed. 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.<ref name=wright2006>Template:Cite journal</ref> In August 1975, however, he dissolved Parliament because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974.<ref name=spokane75>Template:Cite news</ref> The parliamentary system was never restored in his lifetime despite occasional protests from the leftist and Islamist camps, which reached their peak in 1994 (see: History of Bahrain). Template:Citation needed

During his reign there was an arrangement between him and his brother, Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman,<ref name=wright2008>Template:Cite journal</ref> whereby the Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, while Khalifa controlled the government and economy as Prime Minister.<ref name=wright2008/>

Isa was one of the founders of the Dar Al Maal Al Islami Trust which was initiated by Saudi royal Mohammed bin Faisal Al Saud, King Faisal's son, in 1981.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

Marriage and children

Template:Unreferenced section Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa had one wife, his cousin Sheikha Hessa bint Salman Al Khalifa (1933–2009), daughter of Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. They married on 8 May 1949. They had five sons and four daughters:

  • Hamad bin Isa (1950–), current king
  • Rashed bin Isa (–17 December 2011)
  • Mohamed bin Isa, Commander of the National Guard (1997–2008)
  • Abdullah bin Isa, Vice President of the Higher Committee for the Horseback riding club
  • Ali bin Isa, Minister of the Royal Court Affairs (1955–)
  • Munira bint Isa
  • Maryam bint Isa
  • Shaikha bint Isa
  • Noura bint Isa

Legacy and death

Silver coin: 500 Fils of Bahrain, with portrait of Isa bin Salman on the front

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

Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa died of a heart attack on 6 March 1999 at the Government House in Manama, shortly after a meeting with the United States defense secretary William Cohen.<ref name=bbc1999>Template:Cite news</ref> He was 65.<ref name=jehl7mar>Template:Cite news</ref> The last function he attended was the funeral of King Hussein of Jordan, which took place less than a month before his death.

US President Bill Clinton expressed "deep sadness", as did GrahamTemplate:Clarify 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. He was buried at the Al-Rifa'a cemetery.

He was succeeded by his eldest son, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.<ref name=bbc1999 />

Foreign honours

Titles

See also

References

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Notes

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