Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah
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| Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah | ||
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| Emir of Bahrain Hakim of Bahrain |
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| Reign | 1960 - 6 March 1999 | |
| Born | June 3, 1933 | |
| Jasra, Bahrain | ||
| Died | 6 March 1999 | |
| Predecessor | Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa | |
| Successor | Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah | |
| Royal House | Al Khalifa | |
| Father | Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa | |
Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah (June 3, 1933 – March 6, 1999) (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة) was emir of Bahrain from 1960 until his death. He was born in Jasra, Bahrain. He became emir when his father, Emir Salman (also spelled Sulman), died. During his reign his country gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. The government of Bahrain had seriously considered joining the United Arab Emirates, but Isa had his country withdrew along with Qatar when he became dissatisfied with parts of its constitution. Isa then made moves toward establishing a form of parliamentary democracy, and men (although not women) were given the vote in parliamentary elections in 1973. However, he dissolved parliament in 1975 because it refused to pass the notorious government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974. Isa never restored the parliament and occasionally had to deal with protests from leftists and Islamists, which reached their peak in 1995. (see: History of Bahrain).
Isa was noted for his opposition to the use of the death penalty, and routinely refused to sign death warrants except on one occasion in 1996, when he gave in to pressure from the security forces to execute a man convicted of the murder of a soldier.
Isa was mostly dedicated to improving the economy, and he believed that his greatest achievement was supporting the building of a causeway connecting his island nation with Saudi Arabia. He was born and died in Bahrain's capital, Manama, and was succeeded by his son, Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah.
[edit] Death
Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa died suddenly on March 6, 1999 . H.H. Shaikh Isa, 65, ruled Bahrain for 38 years, transforming it into a modern nation and key financial center in the Persian Gulf .
Within hours of this tragic moment, thousands of Bahrainis lined the 12-mile funeral route. Thousands more paid their respects by visiting the cemetery where he was buried. Many Arab leaders immediately came to visit Bahrain to pay tribute to the Amir and offer their condolences to his son H.H. Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, who assumed the title of Amir following the passing of his father. Heads of states, civil and military officials, the diplomatic corps, other dignitaries, and citizens from around the world expressed their sorrow and paid their respects by visiting Bahrain or sending letters of condolence. US President Bill Clinton expressed "deep sadness" at the news of the Amir's death calling him "a good friend of peace." UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan also expressed "great sadness" on the death of the Amir whom he described as "a force for stability" in the region. Even Robert Fisk, a journalist highly critical of most Arab leaders, described Sheikh Isa as "not a bad man".
H.H. Shaikh Isa will be remembered as a compassionate leader who cared deeply about the people of Bahrain and prepared the country to face the challenges of the 21 st century. His most outstanding legacy is that he dissolved parliament in 1973, which ultimately gave absolute power to his ruling family.
[edit] See also
| Preceded by: Salman ibn Hamad Al Khalifa (1895-1961) |
Amir of Bahrain Formerly Hakim of Bahrain 1961–1999 |
Succeeded by: Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifa |
