Royalty in Bahrain

Bahrain is a small archipelago (island group) in the Persian Gulf. It has been ruled by the al Khalifa dynasty since 1783. It became a British protectorate in the 19th century, and became independent in 1971.

The country's first elected parliament was suspended in 1975 by then-emir Sheikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Bahrain became a traditional monarchy.

In 1999, Sheikh Isa died suddenly of a heart attack. His son Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa assumed the throne and moved toward democratic reform.

Bahrain officially became a constitutional monarchy in 2002. It is now called the Kingdom of Bahrain, and Sheik Hamad's title has been changed from emir to king.

There is now a democratically elected parliament, although King Hamad has the right to appoint a consultative Shura council with legislative powers equal to those of parliament. Women can run for office. Political parties are still officially banned, but political societies can back candidates in elections.

News

• HM the King visits BDF headquarters

• Protesters try to disrupt showpiece Bahrain Air show

• Bahrain police disperse demonstrators in Manama

• Bahrain king announces constitutional reforms

• Bahrain king emphasises religious tolerance

• HRH Crown Prince receives senior officials

• British PM urges reform in talks with Bahrain king
• King insists his forces do not indulge in 'ethnic cleansing'

• Bahrain's Princess Sabeeka to patronize SCW anniversary

• HRH Prince Salman hold talks with Merkel

• King sets up commission in wake of rights report

• Royals listen to harsh summary of inquiry on live TV

• Bahrain used "excessive force" in crackdown, says inquiry

• Bahrain admits uprising forcibly crushed

• Crown Prince of Bahrain says his country is safe

• Bahrain opposition unites to decry "police state"

• HM the King patronizes GCC Games
• HRH Crown Prince hails solid Bahraini-Saudi ties
• HRH Princess Sabeeka to patronise ceremony

• Royal promise

• Bahrain prosecutor orders retrial of Shiite medics

• Bahraini princess accused of torturing hospital medical staff
• Prince Salman urges traders' unity to rebuild society

• Bahrain jails 20 doctors after democracy protests

• Bahrain upholds life sentences for protest leaders
• Bahrain feels heavy weight of sectarian tension

• Power struggle within Bahraini royal family

• Police, protesters clash in Bahrain
• Bahrain king backs call for new world order

• Bahrain's king sets compensation

• Slogans against king chanted at teen's funeral

King Hamad of Bahrain
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

• King pardons poet jailed for pro-democracy incitement

• Bahrain king pardons protest abusers
• Monarch urges unity and forgiveness of recent unrest

• Bahrain protests: 'The repression is getting worse'

• Bahrain frees detainees including ex-MPs after unrest
• Bahrain remains tribal, keeping democracy out

• Jurist: Bahrain inquiry serious, political split grave

• Bahrain's King Hamad supports dialogue report

• Bahrain puts protest poet under house arrest
• Amnesty International: Activist jailed for reading poem
• The Independent: Locked up for reading a poem
• Ayat Al-Gormezi: The Freedom Poet

• The US response to Bahrain's oppression

• Rights group slams Bahrain's 'violent repression'

• Bahrain begins national dialogue after upheaval

• Tensions high as Bahrain dialogue looms

• King sets up commission to probe abuses

• Bahrain opposition says undecided on talks

• Bahrain court jails 8 opposition activists for life

• Bahrain king visits Al-Mahmoods and Al-Musallams

• Thousands rally for reform in Bahrain
• Bahrain student jailed for year over protest poems

• Opposition: 400 Bahrainis on trial after protests

• Obama meets Bahrain crown prince at White House
• Clerics accuse police of violating religious freedoms

Crown Prince Salman (second from left) meets President Obama
Photo source: The White House

• Bahrain police clash with Shi'ite religious marchers

• UN chief calls on Bahrain leaders to uphold rights
• White House to host Bahrain royal to push reform

• Bahrain begins woman's trial for 'insulting' rulers

• Bahrainis call for protests as emergency lifted
• Text of King Hamad's speech

• Bahrain's king offers July reform talks

• Bahrain hopes for normalcy with martial law lifted

• British PM and Bahrain crown prince hold talks
• Anger as Cameron invites prince to No 10

• Bahrain to lift state of emergency from June 1

• Rulers encourage loyalty oaths

• Bahrain king is press 'predator': RSF

• Obama urges Bahrain king to respect 'universal rights'

• Crown prince sidelined by senior royal advisers

• Bahrain crown prince declines royal wedding invite
• Bahrain crown prince to miss royal wedding

• Crown Prince hails role of security forces

• Bahrain's secret terror

• Bahrain seeks to dissolve main opposition group

• Post-crackdown Bahrain keeps up hard line
• Bahrain human rights activist "arrested, beaten up"

• Crown prince: "No leniency" on threats to Bahrain
• King touted intelligence ties with Israel: leak
• Cables: King discusses Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Israel

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa
Photo © copyright by World Economic Forum. swiss-image.ch/Photo by Monika Flueckiger
Photo source: World Economic Forum. License: Some Rights Reserved

• Bahrain steps up arrests of activists: opposition

• Continued small protests against Bahrain's king

• HRH Prince Salman on two-day visit to Jordan
• HRH Crown Prince visits the Special Forces

• His Majesty hails Saudi support to Bahrain
• Bahrain rulers unleash 'campaign of intimidation'

• Bahrain king says forces have foiled foreign plot

• Bahrain king pledges reform as protester dies
• King of Bahrain rejects invitation from William and Kate

• Bahrainis bury dead protester amid crackdown
• Bahrain destroys Pearl roundabout

• UN warns Bahrain after protests crackdown
• Bahrain arrests opposition leaders
• Crown prince has not commented publicly this week

• Five dead as Bahrain police clear Pearl Square
• U.S. berates Bahrain, Gulf allies as tensions spread
• Bahrain fighting moves from Roundabout to villages

• Hundreds shot in Bahrain as emergency declared
• Bahrain declares martial law, violence flares
• Bahrain tensions rise as Iran slams Gulf force
• Capital of Bahrain deserted as troops enter
• Two killed in Bahrain violence despite martial law

• Regime talks softly while bringing the big guns in
• Why has Bahrain decided to call in the troops?

• Gulf troops enter Bahrain as protests escalate
• UAE says sent 500 police officers into Bahrain
• Bahrain royal family welcomes Saudi troops

• Hundreds hurt as Bahrain protests spread
• Bahrain protesters block roads, royals push for talks

• Thousands protest outside Bahrain king's palace
• If Bahrain fails to reform, Iran will meddle: US

• Bahrain police block march on royal palace
• King hails role of youngsters

Crown Prince Salman of Bahrain
Image source: Wikimedia Commons

• Bahrain prepares for march, sectarian clash erupts

• Protests against Bahrain's ruling family (video)
• King voices confidence in crown prince's initiative

• Bahrain prince warns against protest escalation
• Hardline Shi'ite groups demand republic in Bahrain

• Bahrain to spend $5.32 bln on homes in face of protests

• Thousands protest at Bahrain government HQ

• U.S. tacks toward king amid Bahrain turmoil

• Bahraini opposition groups set conditions for dialogue
• Bahrain opposition says ready to enter talks

• Manama gripped by pro- and anti-regime protests

• Bahrain king fears split, seeks dialogue: minister
• Relentless, thousands march to Bahrain's Pearl Square

Books About Bahrain

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Related Topics

Royalty in the Middle East
Royalty in Saudi Arabia

Other Websites

Wikipedia - Al Khalifa Family
CIA World Factbook: Bahrain
Wikipedia - Consultative Council of Bahrain
Bahrain's Ninth al-Khalifa
Bahrain's Political Societies Profiled

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Princess-Marine Love Story Ends
Princess and Ex-Marine to Divorce
Bahraini Princess and US Marine End 5-Year-Bond
Princess, Ex-Marine Not Happily Ever After