Isa bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (Arabic: عيسى بن سلمان آل خليفة; 3 June 1933 – 6 March 1999) was the ruler of Bahrain from 1961 until his death in 1999. A member of the House of Khalifa, he ruled as Hakim until 1971 and for the remainder of his reign as Emir.
Born in Jasra, Bahrain, he ascended the throne upon the death of his father, Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa.
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Early life and reign
Isa was born in Jasra to Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa and Mouza bint Hamad Al Khalifa (1917-2011), 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.
Isa visited Ayetollah Mohsin Al Hakim in Najaf in 1968 to indicate his keenness to reinforce relationships with the Shia.
During his reign, Bahrain gained 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 in his lifetime despite 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, whereby the Emir was assigned a diplomatic and ceremonial role, while Khalifa controlled the government and economy as Prime Minister.
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.
Marriage and children
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)
Mohammed 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
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. He was 65. 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 Graham 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.
Foreign honours
Spain: Grand Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (4 December 1981)
Egypt: Grand Collar of the Order of the Nile
France: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honor
Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Iran: Grand Collar of the Order of Pahlavi
Kingdom of Iraq:
Order of the Two Rivers 1st Class (x/5/1968, 2nd Class 3 April 1952)
King Faisal II Installation Medal (2 May 1953)
Jordan:
Grand Cordon with Collar of the Order of al-Hussein bin Ali
Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance
Kuwait: Collar of the Order of Mubarak the Great of Kuwait
Lebanon: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Cedar (2nd Class, 1958)
Morocco: Collar of the Order of Muhammad
Oman: Civil Order of Oman, 1st Class
Qatar: Collar of the Order of the Independence of the State
South Africa: Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (1995)
Titles
1933–1942: Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
1942–1961: His Excellency Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa
1961–1964: His Highness Sheikh Isa II bin Salman Al Khalifa, Hakim of Bahrain
1964–1971: His Highness Sheikh Sir Isa II bin Salman Al Khalifa, Hakim of Bahrain, KCMG
1971–1999: His Highness Sheikh Isa II bin Salman Al Khalifa, Emir of Bahrain