Bahrain's Independence: A Historical Overview Of Their Freedom Year

Bahrain, an island country in West Asia, declared independence from the British Empire on 15 August 1971. This came after a period of British rule, which began in 1783 when the Bani Utbah tribe led by Al Khalifa invaded the islands. The British recognised the Al Khalifa as the rulers of Bahrain in 1820, and the country became a British protectorate in 1861. In 1971, the British government announced its decision to end treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, prompting Bahrain to declare independence.

Bahrain's independence from the British Empire

1783: The Bani Utbah tribe, led by Al Khalifa, invaded Bahrain from their base in Al Zubarah (then a British protectorate in present-day Qatar).

1820: The British Empire, then the dominant power in the region, signed a "General Treaty of Peace" with tribal chiefs, including Al Khalifa, recognising them as the "legitimate" rulers of Bahrain.

1861: Britain signed the "Treaty of Perpetual Truce and Friendship" with Bahrain, offering British protection in return for control over foreign affairs.

1869-1923: Isa bin Ali, appointed ruler of Bahrain by the British, enjoyed absolute powers during his reign. Britain defended Bahrain from external threats, allowing Isa and his family to rule without challenges.

1880 and 1892: Further treaties with the British solidified Bahrain's status as a British protectorate, with the UK taking control of defence and foreign relations.

1902: A British official first reported the presence of oil near Bahrain's coastline.

1919-1927: The British implemented administrative reforms, including the establishment of a modern bureaucracy, the abolition of forced labour, and changes to the judicial and education systems.

1921: The British forced Sheikh Isa bin Ali to relinquish day-to-day control of Bahrain to his son, Hamad bin Isa, due to his conservative policies.

1925: The first oil concession was awarded, but commercial quantities of oil were not found until 1932.

1935: The Royal Navy moved its Middle Eastern command from Bushire to Bahrain.

1948: Rising anti-Jewish sentiment and looting led to most members of Bahrain's Jewish community abandoning their properties and emigrating to Bombay and Israel.

1956: The first serious seeds of discontent emerged with the rise of Pan-Arab Nationalism and the Suez Crisis. Anti-British riots broke out, resulting in several deaths and the landing of British troops.

1968: The British Government announced its decision to end treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms, including Bahrain.

1971: Bahrain declared itself fully independent on August 15, 1971, following a United Nations survey of the Bahraini population. This declaration ended the British Empire's presence in Bahrain, which had lasted since the early 1800s.

The role of the United Nations in Bahrain's independence

On 15 August 1971, Bahrain declared its independence from the British, marking the day with the signing of a friendship treaty that terminated previous agreements between the two sides. This came after a United Nations survey of the Bahraini population and the British government's decision to end treaty relationships with the Persian Gulf sheikdoms.

The United Nations played a significant role in Bahrain's independence, with a UN survey of the Bahraini population preceding the declaration. Following its independence, Bahrain joined the United Nations as a Member State in the same year. Since then, Bahrain has joined a range of UN councils, including the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council.

The UN has continued to support Bahrain's progress through various programmes and initiatives. The UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) represents a comprehensive partnership strategy, guided by Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and the 2030 Agenda. The UN provides policy, advisory, and programmatic support to Bahrain in various sectors, including sustainable management of natural resources, energy efficiency, and climate resilience.

The UN's work in Bahrain is focused on ensuring that the country's natural wealth and consumption patterns are motivated by the goal of greening the economy. Additionally, the UN provides technical assistance to develop social sector policies and regulatory frameworks that foster economic diversification, employment creation, and increased resilience and innovation.

The United Nations has played a crucial role in Bahrain's independence and continues to support the country's development and progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Al Khalifa family's rule over Bahrain

The Al Khalifa family has ruled Bahrain since 1783, when the islands were captured by the clan, who were originally based in Kuwait. The leader of the family, Shaykh Ahmad bin Khalifa, ruled the islands from Zubara, on the northwestern coast of Qatar, until his death in 1796.

After his death, two of his sons, Salman and Abdulla, co-ruled Bahrain, with Salman ruling Bahrain Island and Abdulla ruling Muharraq Island. This led to a split in the family, with the Al-Abdulla and Al-Salman branches engaging in open conflict until 1846, when the Al-Salman branch emerged victorious.

In 1869, British forces stepped in to end the fighting and appointed Shaykh Isa bin Ali, a descendant of Sulman, as ruler. This appointment was confirmed by treaties in 1880 and 1892.

In 1868, following the Qatari-Bahraini War, the British signed another agreement with the Al Khalifas, which specified that the ruler could not dispose of any territories except to the UK and could not enter into relationships with other governments without British consent. In return, the British promised to protect Bahrain from aggression by sea and lend support in the event of a land attack. This agreement further secured the Al Khalifa family's rule over Bahrain.

In 1971, Bahrain gained independence from the British, and Shaykh Isa took the title of Amir. In 1999, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa succeeded his father, Isa Al Khalifa, as Emir of Bahrain. In 2002, Hamad proclaimed himself King of Bahrain, becoming a constitutional monarch.

Since 1999, King Hamad has introduced a number of political reforms, including the release of political prisoners, the abolition of the State Security Court, and the reinstatement of public employees who had been fired for their political activities. He has also appointed a committee to revise the 1973 constitution and prepare for elections to a new advisory council.

The Al Khalifa family leads a large number of ministerial and governmental posts, including the Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Bahrain Economic Development Board, and the Supreme Council for Women.

In 2011, Bahrain was rocked by protests inspired by the Arab Spring, with demonstrators demanding that Hamad step down. Hamad responded by declaring a State of National Safety for three months and calling on foreign troops to enter Bahrain, a move that was strongly condemned by opposition parties.

The country's history of foreign rule

The Kingdom of Bahrain declared its independence in 1971, but the country's history of foreign rule dates back much further, with various empires and external forces exerting influence over the archipelago. Here is an overview of Bahrain's long history of foreign domination before its independence.

The country's strategic location in the Persian Gulf made it an attractive prospect for ancient empires. As early as the 3rd millennium BCE, Bahrain was part of a trading network that included the valley of the Indus, Mesopotamia, and ancient Oman. It is believed that Bahrain was first settled by the Canaanite people who called it the "Land of Resin," a reference to the valuable resin that was extracted from the local trees. Over time, this name evolved into "Tyre," which was a prominent Phoenician city-state that exerted influence over the island.

However, the first true foreign rule over Bahrain was established by the Achaemenid Empire, or the First Persian Empire, which conquered the region in the 6th century BCE. Bahrain was incorporated into a province known as "Maka," which also included parts of modern-day Saudi Arabia and Yemen. This period of Persian rule lasted until the arrival of Alexander the Great, whose vast conquests included Bahrain. After Alexander's death, the island fell under the control of the Seleucid Empire, one of the successor states of Alexander's vast empire.

Persian influence returned to Bahrain in the 3rd century CE when the Sassanid Empire rose to power. This period saw the spread of Zoroastrianism in the region, and Bahrain became a center for this religion, with fire temples established across the islands. This era of Sassanid rule lasted until the arrival of Islam in the 7th century CE, which forever changed the region.

In 628 CE, Bahrain's ruler, Munzir ibn Sawa, became one of the first to accept Islam and pledge allegiance to the Prophet Muhammad. As such, Bahrain became one of the first regions to convert to Islam, and it played a significant role in the spread of the religion. The Islamic era saw various caliphates and empires exert control over Bahrain, including the Umayyad Caliphate, the Abbasid Caliphate, and eventually, the Mongol Empire, which brought destruction and decline to the region.

Over the centuries, Bahrain fell under the influence of the Portuguese Empire and later the Persian Safavid dynasty. In the 18th century, the Persian ruler Nader Shah invaded Bahrain, bringing it under Persian rule once again. However, this period was short-lived, and in 1783, the Al Khalifa family, the current rulers of Bahrain, migrated to the archipelago and established themselves as the dominant power. Despite this, British influence loomed large, and in 1861, Bahrain became a protectorate of the United Kingdom, which exerted significant control over the country's affairs until its independence in 1971.

The Kingdom of Bahrain's modern era

In the 19th century, Bahrain was a centre for pearl diving and commerce, ruled by a Sunni Arab sheikhly family of Bedouin origin. The country's economy was dependent on pearl diving, fishing, and palm cultivation. The ruling family held all the power, with the ruler's private income considered public revenue.

In 1820, the Al Khalifa tribe was recognised by the United Kingdom as the rulers of Bahrain. This was the first of several treaties, including the 1861 Perpetual Truce of Peace and Friendship, which was further revised in 1892 and 1951. These treaties brought Bahrain under British protection and recognised the Al Khalifa as the rulers of Bahrain.

In 1869, Isa bin Ali became the ruler of Bahrain. During his reign, there were no external challenges to the country as Britain defended it. However, his rule was marked by internal conflicts and violence, with the Al Khalifa family divided into factions.

In 1919, H.R.P. Dickson, the British political agent, began implementing reforms in schools, courts, and municipalities. These administrative reforms continued until 1927 and were met with resistance from the Al Khalifa and their allies.

In 1932, oil was discovered in Bahrain, leading to significant economic and social changes. The pearl diving and palm cultivation industries declined, and the country's economy shifted towards oil production.

In 1961, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa came into power and is considered one of the pioneer Arab leaders who built their countries based on justice and stability. He consolidated Arabism and independence, and Bahrain was declared independent from the United Kingdom on 15 August 1971.

In 1999, Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa became the Emir of Bahrain, marking a new era of reform and development. He instituted elections for parliament, gave women the right to vote, and released all political prisoners. In 2002, Bahrain changed its formal name from the State of Bahrain to the Kingdom of Bahrain, and the country adopted a new constitution.

Bahrain has since continued to develop economically and politically, making advancements in areas such as education, infrastructure, and human rights.

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