Bahrain: Political System
The official name of the country is:
| مملكة البحرينMamlakat al-Bahrain
Kingdom of Bahrain |
According to EQUZHOU.NET, Bahrain, which is administratively divided into five governorates, is a constitutional monarchy. This form of government was established in the constitution in 2002. Incidentally, a constitutional monarchy is a special form of monarchy. In this the power of the king is restricted by means of a written constitution. See AbbreviationFinder for more information about Bahrain politics, and acronyms as well.
Although the king is the actual head of state in Bahrain, the prime minister is the actual ruler. He heads a cabinet with 23 members. The king, however, appoints and dismisses the government of Bahrain and also has the right to dissolve the House of Representatives and call new elections.
Bahrain has a bicameral parliament (national assembly). This consists of a House of Representatives (= Majlis an-Nuwwab) and a consultative council (= Majlis asch-Shura). Both bodies have 40 members each. However, the members of the House of Representatives are elected by the people every four years, while those of the Consultative Council are appointed by the King. The latter have an advisory function.
Parties are not allowed in Bahrain. Regardless of this, various opposition groups (e.g. Bahrain Freedom Movement, Asala Association) were registered and allowed to take part in the recent parliamentary elections. The Political Societies Law passed in 2005 forms the basis for this approach.
All citizens over the age of 18 years are required to vote in Bahrain. Women have both active and passive voting rights. Although Islam is Bahrain’s state religion, since the reforms of 2002 women can also be admitted to higher political offices. This happened for the first time in the parliamentary elections in 2006, when Latifa al-Qa’ud became the first woman to be appointed to parliament. It is also possible for both Sunnis and Shiites to obtain political office.
Bahrain is a member of the UN, the OAPEC, the Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council. The US also regards the country as an important ally.
National anthem
The national anthem of a country is usually a piece of music underlaid with a text, which is intended to express the state, life or national feeling of a country. It is usually played on particularly festive occasions, such as state visits, special holidays or to honor politicians, business leaders, etc. National anthem of the respective winning country played.
The introduction of the national anthems in most European countries goes back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The numerous former colonies that had become independent usually introduced their national anthems and also their national flags after independence, i.e. in the second half of the 20th century.
The national anthem of Bahrain is called Bahrainunā, which means something like “Our Bahrain” in the English translation. The anthem was adopted on August 15, 1971, the day Bahrain gained independence from Great Britain. There are two different text versions of the national anthem in circulation, the currently valid one being declared the official anthem in 2002 with the accession to the throne of Hamad ibn Isa Al Khalifas. Muhammad Sudqi Ayyasch, born in 1925, came up with the text for the national piece of music. Unfortunately, the composer has remained unknown.
Here is the Arabic text of the hymn:
| بحريننامليكنا
رمز الوئام دستورها عالي المكانة والمقام ميثاقها نهج الشريلعة والعروبة والقيم عحارية مل اليم عحارية ملبلد الكرام مهد السلام دستورها عالي المكانة والمقام ميثاقها نهج الشريعة والعروبة والعروبة ملالقيم عاشن المكانة يم عاشنت مملحر يم عاشنت ملمكرة يم عاشنت مملحر يم عاشنت مملحرة يم عاشنت ملمحريم |
And in the English translation
| Our BahrainOur King
A symbol of harmony His constitution is high and well placed. Your statute is the way of Sharia, Arabism and values. Long live the Kingdom of BahrainLand of noble men, cradle of peace. Its constitution stands high and good position. Its statute is the way of Sharia, Arabism and values. Long live the Kingdom of Bahrain |
National flag
Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the national flag of the Kingdom of Bahrain is composed of a vertical white stripe on the left and a red stripe on the right, with the two sides separated by five triangles that give the impression that it is a zigzag line. The red of the flag indicates the Kharijich religion and the color white refers to peace with the neighbors of Bahrain. The five pillars of Islam are symbolized with the help of the five triangles.
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Bahrain.
By the way:
The national flag of Qatar originally looked exactly like that of today’s Bahrain. Since you naturally wanted to avoid mix-ups, the red of the flag was changed to brown. This color shift was due to the fact that the red dye, which was used to color the flag, turned brown when exposed to strong sunlight.
Bahrain: personalities
Haya Raschid Al Chalifa (born 1952)
This lawyer and diplomat from Bahrain was elected President of the 61st UN General Assembly in 2006 and held this office until 2007. She was only the third woman to hold this high position. Al Chalifa represented her home country as ambassador in France from 1999 to 2004.
Isa ibn Salman Al Chalifa (1933-1999)
During the reign of this Emir of Bahrain (1961-1999), the British protectorate of Bahrain was able to achieve its independence in 1971. Then he became head of state of a now sovereign state.
Sheikh Hamad ibn Isa Al Chalifa (born 1950) Al Chalifa, born
in Riffa (Bahrain) in 1950, is the current King of Bahrain. After becoming an emir in 1999, he declared himself king in 2002. The son of the former emir initiated extensive democratic reforms in Bahrain in the year of his rise to office and changed the constitution so that he made a constitutional monarchy out of the absolute.
Muhammad Sudqi Ayyasch (born 1925)
Ayyasch wrote the text for the national anthem of Bahrain, the Bahrainunā.
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (born 1984 in Ethiopia)
At the 2007 World Championships in Osaka/Japan, she won the world title over 1,500 m in 3: 58.75 minutes, which she won at the 2009 World Athletics Championships in Berlin with a time of 4:03, Defended 74 minutes
Bahrain: plants
Bahrain is a hot and dry country. This is also reflected in the flora. So on the main island of Bahrain – apart from the few agriculturally usable areas – desert vegetation predominates. On the north coast there is a fertile five-kilometer-long strip on which date, pomegranate, fig and almond trees grow. There are also various types of vegetables that are grown there.
Positive news concerns Bahrain’s forest area, which has the world’s largest percentage increase. Between 1990 and the year 200 alone it grew by 14.9%.
Shajarat al-Hayah (Tree of Life)
This 400 year old sweet pod tree is believed to be a true natural wonder. Standing completely alone in the desert, it rises about two kilometers from Jabal ad Dukhan, the highest point in Bahrain. The source of water that the tree uses for its growth has not yet been found. Investigations have shown that there is no water to be found anywhere.
Bahrain: animals
Bahrain is very poor in animal species. In particular, lizards, mongooses and gerbils live on the islands. The gazelles and hares that were once found on the islands are almost extinct. Cattle, sheep and goats are also found on the islands. They are kept for raising livestock. Many of the islands of Bahrain are used by migratory birds.
Tip!
Al Areen Reserve
In the Al Areen Reserve you can see animals in the wild that are actually threatened with extinction.
