Words matter. These are the best Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
Bahrain ‘s margin of freedom is growing day after day as we head into the future with steady steps.
No king should rule absolutely, like a dictator.
We are a constitutional monarchy. I don’t order laws, I propose them. Article 35 of our constitution states that the king can only refuse a law of parliament once, then he has to sign it – if the same law is then supported by a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.
Reform is the mission from which we shall not digress; it is an expression of belief and determination between us and our people. With the help of Allah, we will proceed forward in this promising national process within the natural progress of the life cycle and the development of people and nation.
In establishing democracy, we have to be sensitive to the regional and national context. Democracy also means to guarantee the rights of the minorities. That’s my job as a king. We have for example a Jewish ambassador in the US and a Christian in the UK.
We invite American companies looking to raise capital to list on the Bahrain Stock Exchange. The region has a liquidity oversupply approximating $1 trillion and this pool of capital can be tapped into by creative American companies. The next Facebook may very well get funded on the BSE.
If somebody gives me his hand, I will not look at him with suspicion.
There are no ‘political prisoners’ as such in Bahrain. People are not arrested because they express their views, we only have criminals.
The decision to open up Bahrain to embrace all people indiscriminately was fostered in me ever since I was a child.
The Bahraini people are eager to obtain facts to enable them to shape a comprehensive national opinion without division among its people. We confirm to all journalists and media personnel in the kingdom of Bahrain that their freedom is preserved and their rights are safeguarded.
There is no doubt that some in Iran have an unhealthy focus on Bahrain, as some of the broadcast coverage shows.
Our people have proven their desire for continuing with reforms. We complete the march today with those who have an honest patriotic desire for more progress and reform.
Bahrain is very dear to me.
In a sense there is no ‘opposition’ in Bahrain, as the phrase implies one unified block with the same views. Such a phrase is not in our constitution, unlike say the United Kingdom. We only have people with different views and that’s ok.
May Allah guide us to the good of the kingdom of Bahrain and its loyal people.
By being friends with all, we are not alone.
Along with our friends in the GCC, the first order of business is stability. Beyond the imperative of stability, the most important priority is job creation for all Bahrainis.
Societies cannot move forward without law, and our constitution is the cornerstone of the law and our National Assembly is its umbrella and fortress.
Democracy is not just constitutional and legislative rules; it is a culture and practice and adhering by the law and respecting international human rights principles.
Bahrainis are better off than many other Arabs. We have a welfare state, everybody gets a salary whether they have a job or not. Electricity and food are subsidized; school and healthcare are free. And we don’t differentiate between Bahrainis and foreigners. We are very proud of that.
I don’t order laws, I propose them.
If you like your brother and he’s prospering, you’ll be pleased for him.
