Khalifah ibn Sulman Al Khalifah

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Prime Minister of Bahrain
Khalifa ibn Sulman Al Khalifah خليفة بن سلمان آل خليفة

Incumbent
Assumed office 16 December 1971
Monarch	Isa ibn Salman Al Khalifah Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifah
Preceded by	Office created

Born	22 November 1936 (1936-11-22) (age 71)
Religion	Sunni Islam

‎Khalifa ibn Salman Al Khalifah (Arabic: 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."^[1]

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

[edit] 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.^[2] 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.^[3]

The initial signatories to the petition includes a mix of Sunnis and Shias, as well as Islamists and secular nationalists and Leftist leaders. ^[4]

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.^[5]