Coronation 16 December 1961 Burial Al Rifa'a Cemetery | Name Isa Salman | |
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Reign 2 November 1961 – 6 March 1999 Predecessor Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Issue King HamadSheikh RashedSheikh MohammedSheikh AbdullahSheikh AliSheika MuniraSheika MaryamSheika ShaikhaSheika Nora Similar People Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Abdullah bin Hamad bin Isa Al Died 6 March 1999 (aged 67) Manama, Bahrain House Khalifa Father Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa Mother Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa Religion Sunni Islam | ||
H h shaikh isa bin salman al khalifa quotes testimonies 1
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة; 3 June 1933 – 6 March 1999) was the 1st emir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death. Born in Jasra, he became emir upon the death of his father, Salman ibn Hamad.
Contents
- H h shaikh isa bin salman al khalifa quotes testimonies 1
- Sheikh isa bin salman al khalifa pictures
- Early life and Reign
- Marriage and children
- Legacy and death
- Foreign honors
- Titles
- References
Sheikh isa bin salman al khalifa pictures
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. 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.
His term saw Bahrain gain its independence from the United Kingdom in 1971. 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. In August 1975, however, he dissolved Parliament because it refused to pass the government-sponsored State Security Law of 1974. 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. Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, whereas Sheikh Khalifa involved in controlling the government and economy as Prime Minister.
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:
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. He was 65.
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.
Foreign honors
Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa was awarded :