page_title: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa
section_title: Reign
hierarchical_section_title: Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa / Reign
caption_attribution_description: English: King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa (left) of Bahrain responds to a reporter's question during joint press availability with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld (right) outside the Pentagon on Feb. 4, 2003. The two men met earlier to discuss a range of bilateral and regional security issues.
context_page_description: Hamad bin Isa bin Salman al-Khalifa is the King of Bahrain. He has been the monarch of Bahrain since 6 March 1999, initially reigning as emir, and from 14 February 2002, as the first king. He is the son of Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the previous and first emir. The country has been ruled by the Al Khalifa dynasty since 1783.
context_section_description: On the death of his father Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Hamad became Emir of Bahrain on 6 March 1999. As Emir, Hamad brought several political reforms to Bahrain. These included the release of all political prisoners, the dissolution of the State Security Court and the abolition of the 1974 Decree on State Security Measures.  Additionally, many Bahraini citizens were permitted to return after several years in exile overseas. In 2002, he declared himself king. He enjoys wide executive authorities which include appointing the prime minister and his ministers, commanding the army, chairing the Higher Judicial Council, appointing the parliament's upper half and dissolving its elected lower half.
caption: King Hamad with Donald H. Rumsfeld
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