| Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa | |
|---|---|
 Isa bin Salman in 1998 | |
| Emir of Bahrain | |
| Reign | 16 August 1971 – 6 March 1999 |
| Predecessor | Position established Himself(asHakim) |
| Successor | Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa |
| Prime Minister | Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa |
| Hakim of Bahrain | |
| Reign | 2 November 1961 – 16 August 1971 |
| Coronation | 16 December 1961 |
| Predecessor | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Successor | Position abolished Himself(asEmir) |
| Prime Minister | Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa |
| Born | (1933-06-03)3 June 1933 Jasra, Bahrain[a] |
| Died | 6 March 1999(1999-03-06) (aged 65) Manama, Bahrain[b] |
| Burial | Al Rifa'a Cemetery |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Khalifa |
| Father | Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Mother | Moza bint Hamad Al Khalifa |
| Religion | Sunni Islam |
Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Arabic:عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة; 3 June 1933 – 6 March 1999) was aBahraini royal who served as the firstEmir of Bahrain from 1961 until his death in 1999 (after having previously ruled asHakim of Bahrain until 16 August 1971).
Born inJasra, Bahrain, he became emir upon the death of his father,Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
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.[1][2]
Isa visitedAyetollah Mohsin Al Hakim inNajaf in 1968 to indicate his keenness to reinforce relationships withthe Shia.[3]
During his reign, Bahrain gained independence from theUnited Kingdom in 1971.[4] While the government initially considered joining theUnited Arab Emirates, Isa had his country withdraw (along withQatar) over his dissatisfaction with the proposedconstitution[citation needed]. He then attempted to introduce a moderate form ofparliamentary 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-sponsoredState Security Law of 1974.[6] The parliamentary system was never restored in his lifetime despite occasional protests from theleftist andIslamist camps, which reached their peak in 1994 (see:History of Bahrain).[citation needed]
During his reign there was an arrangement between him and his brother,Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman,[7] whereby the Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, while Khalifa controlled the government and economy asPrime Minister.[7]
Isa was one of the founders of theDar Al Maal Al Islami Trust which was initiated bySaudi royalMohammed bin Faisal Al Saud,King Faisal's son, in 1981.[8]
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Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa had one wife, his cousin SheikhaHessa 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:
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During his 38 years as Emir, the economic transformation of Bahrain into a modern nation and a key financial centre in thePersian 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 theGovernment House inManama, shortly after a meeting with the United States defense secretaryWilliam Cohen.[9] He was 65.[4] The last function he attended was thefuneral of King Hussein of Jordan, which took place less than a month before his death.
US PresidentBill Clinton expressed "deep sadness", as did Graham[clarification needed] at the news of the emir's death calling him "a good friend of peace". UN Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan also expressed "great sadness", and described the emir as "a force for stability" in the region. He was buried at theAl-Rifa'a cemetery.
He was succeeded by his eldest son,Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.[9]
Spain: Grand Collar of theOrder of Isabella the Catholic (4 December 1981)[10]
Egypt: Grand Collar of theOrder of the Nile
France: Grand Cross of the National Order of theLegion of Honor
Germany: Grand Cross of theOrder of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Iran: Grand Collar of theOrder of Pahlavi
Kingdom of Iraq:
Jordan:
Kuwait: Collar of theOrder of Mubarak the Great ofKuwait
Lebanon: Grand Cordon of theOrder of the Cedar (2nd Class, 1958)
Morocco: Collar of theOrder of Muhammad
Oman: CivilOrder of Oman, 1st Class
Qatar: Collar of theOrder of the Independence of the State
South Africa: Grand Cross of theOrder of Good Hope (1995)[11]
Syria: Grand Cross of theOrder of Umayyad
Tunisia: Grand Cross of theOrder of the Independence
UAE:Order of Al-Nahayyan 1st ClassEmpire of Iran: Commemorative Medal of the2500th Anniversary of the founding of the Persian Empire (14 October 1971).[12][13]
United Kingdom:
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Emir of Bahrain 1961–1999 | Succeeded by |
|  | |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
