Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
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| Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa | ||
|---|---|---|
| King of Bahrain Emir of Bahrain |
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| Reign | 6 March 1999 - present | |
| Born | January 28, 1950 | |
| Riffa, Bahrain | ||
| Predecessor | Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah | |
| Heir-Apparent | Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa | |
| Consort | Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa | |
| Issue | Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Shaikh Abdullah , Shaikh Khalifa , Shaikha Najla , Faisal ibn Hamad Al Khalifah | |
| Royal House | Al Khalifa | |
| Father | Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah | |
| Bahrain |
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Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (Arabic: حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة) (born January 28, 1950 in Riffa, Bahrain) is the current King of Bahrain (from 2002), having previously been its Emir (since 1999). Upon succeeding his father, King Hamad brought in sweeping political reforms to the Kingdom which included the release of all political prisoners, granting women the right to vote, and holding elections for parliament.
He is the son of Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa, the previous emir. He and his wife, Shaikha Sabika bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, had six children, Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on October 21, 1969, Shaikh Abdullah on June 30, 1975, Shaikh Khalifa on June 4, 1977, and Shaikha Najla on May 20, 1981. The king's youngest son, 15 year old Prince Faisal ibn Hamad Al Khalifah, died in a car accident on January 13, 2006.
For his secondary schooling, he attended the Leys School in Cambridge, England, and later at military colleges in the United Kingdom (including Sandhurst) and United States (including Fort Leavenworth). On 16 February 1979 he was awarded the Knight of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George from the United Kingdom.
In 2002 he took a stance opposing any 'unilateral' military action by the United States against Iraq.
The King has great interest in preserving heritage and continues to indulge in a number of sports activities and hobbies including falconry, golf, fishing, tennis and football. His keen interest in Arabian horses caused him to establish the Amiri stables in June 1977 which was registered in the World Arabian Horses Organisation in September 1978.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Bahrain Embassy
- Hamad seeks openness to tackle woes of society, Gulf News, 2 April 2006
- Bahrian: The Royals rule, Le Monde Diplomatique, March 2005
- An Arab exception: Reform in Bahrain The Economist, 29 July 2004 (requires subscription)
| Preceded by: Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa |
King of Bahrain Formerly Amir of Bahrain 1999 – present |
Incumbent |
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