Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah

Infobox Prime Minister


name = Khalifa ibn Sulman Al Khalifah
خليفة بن سلمان آل خليفة
order = Prime Minister of Bahrain
monarch = Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah
Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
term_start = 16 December 1971
predecessor = Office created
birth_date = birth date and age|1936|11|22|df=y
religion = Sunni Islam‎Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifah (ArB|خليفة بن سلمان آل خليفة) (born 22 November 1936) is the Prime Minister of Bahrain. He is the uncle of the reigning King, Hamad ibn Isa al-Khalifah, and has been Prime Minister since 1970, originally being appointed by his brother, the then emir, Isa ibn Salman al-Khalifa. He is the longest-serving prime minister in the world, having retained office for 37 years. He still retains his post, although under the 2002 Constitution he has lost some of his power on paper with the King having the authority to appoint and (along with parliament) dismiss ministers. He is known to be the richest member of the ruling family and one of the biggest merchants in Bahrain.

In 2002, a focus group study conducted by the National Democratic Institute to gauge the popular opinions of Bahrainis found that the "Prime Minister is admired for his business acumen, though Bahrainis in both communities [Shia and Sunni] say it is time for him to retire." [cite paper
author = Melia, Thomas O.
title = The People of Bahrain Want to Participate in The King's Political Reform Project
publisher = National Democratic Institute
date = August 2002
url = http://www.accessdemocracy.org/NDI/library/1452_bh_report_100102.pdf
format = PDF
accessdate = 2007-01-19]

Jidda Island is privately owned by him and is off limit to other citizens.

National petition for removal

In January 2008, Bahraini activists, led primarily by the Haq Movement, launched a petition campaign demanding the removal of Khalifa bin Salman from his post as prime minister. [cite web
last = Haq Movement
authorlink = Haq Movement
title = Launching a popular petition calling for the disqualification of the Prime Minister
url = http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/1697
accessdate = 2008-01-19 ] The petition cites the fact that Khalifa bin Salman has been in office for 37 years, and that he is a member of the Royal Family, as well as allegations of corruption, looting of public funds, sectarian discrimination, torture and extrajudicial killings. The petition demands a prime minister independent of the Royal Family, held accountable to the people. It proposes a peaceful transfer of power through elections. [cite web
last = Haq Movement
authorlink = Haq Movement
title = Questions and answers regarding the petition for the removal of the Prime Minister
url = http://www.haaq.org/ar-BH/2/4/358/ViewNews/Default.aspx
date = 2008-01-17
accessdate = 2008-01-19 ]

The initial signatories to the petition includes a mix of Sunnis and Shias, as well as Islamists and secular nationalists and Leftist leaders. [cite web
title = Initial signatories of the petition for the removal of the Prime Minister
url = http://bahrainonline.org/showthread.php?t=195407
accessdate = 2008-01-19 ]

In June 2008, Haq Movement leader Hasan Mushaima claimed that fifty-four thousand Bahrainis had signed the petition for Khalifa bin Salman's removal. He said that the petition and signatures were sent to the Royal Court, but the court refused to receive them. Instead, the documents have been sent via mail and faxed to the Court. [cite web
last = Aafaq.org
title = Bahrain: 54,000 Citizens Sign Petition for Removal of the Prime Minister
url = http://www.aafaq.org/news.aspx?id_news=5741
accessdate = 2008-06-08 ]

References

See also

*List of national leaders