Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa

Sheikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (Arabic حمد بن عيسى آل خليفة, DMG Hamad bin ʿ Īsā Āl Halifa, born January 28, 1950 in Riffa, Bahrain ) is the reigning King of Bahrain. Hamad Emir in 1999, on 14 February 2002 he declared himself king.

He attended private schools in the UK and later military schools in the UK and the USA.

He is the son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the previous Emir, and has six children, including the Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. His youngest son, Faisal bin Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa died in a car accident on 12 January 2006 killed.

2002 referred Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa clear position for military action by the U.S. against Iraq. He also called on Iraq unconditional implementation of the UN resolutions.

In response to directed against his regime protests he set in February 2011, according to the recently acquired powers toppling despots in Tunisia and Egypt, in extreme brutality: Security forces fired on demonstrators, there were numerous deaths.

Relations with the British Royal Family

Hamad was invited to the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton in April 2011. However, as human rights activists had announced protests over the bloody crackdown on protests in Bahrain, he declined the invitation from the short term.

His presence at the celebration of the 60th jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in May 2012 met with massive criticism from human rights activists.