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Revision as of 06:45, 15 July 2013 editArthur Rubin (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Rollbackers130,168 edits Reverted 1 edit by Heyheyhey222333 (talk): Seems as well written and sourced as the rest of the article. (TW)← Previous edit Revision as of 06:51, 15 July 2013 edit undoHeyheyhey222333 (talk | contribs)34 editsm You're showing bias on the page by highlighting a negative fact listed under foreign affairs in the overview. Sheikh Hamad's ties to radicals do not define him. It's part of his foreign policy as a world leader. He does many other things too!Tag: Visual editNext edit →
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'''] Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani''' ({{lang-ar|الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني}}, born 1 January 1952) was the ruling ] of the State of Qatar from 1995 to 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,616130,00.html|date=29 March 2009|accessdate=2 March 2012|title=SPIEGEL Interview with the Emir of Qatar – 'We Are Coming to Invest'|first1=Volkhard |last1=Windfuhr |first2=Bernhard |last2=Zand|work=]|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/technology/11iht-jazeera.4.19256575.html|accessdate=2 March 2012|title=Al Jazeera provides an inside look at Gaza conflict|first=Noam|last=Cohen|date=1 January 2009}}</ref> '''] Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani''' ({{lang-ar|الشيخ حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني}}, born 1 January 1952) was the ruling ] of the State of Qatar from 1995 to 2013.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/0,1518,616130,00.html|date=29 March 2009|accessdate=2 March 2012|title=SPIEGEL Interview with the Emir of Qatar – 'We Are Coming to Invest'|first1=Volkhard |last1=Windfuhr |first2=Bernhard |last2=Zand|work=]|work=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/11/technology/11iht-jazeera.4.19256575.html|accessdate=2 March 2012|title=Al Jazeera provides an inside look at Gaza conflict|first=Noam|last=Cohen|date=1 January 2009}}</ref>


He is famous for helping to establish the first Arab international news network, ], when he provided a loan of ] 500 million ($137 million) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years. In late 2012 and early 2013, he was accused of providing financial and material support to organizations such as ],<ref name="ft.com">23 October 2012 11:03 pm, Qatar emir in landmark trip to Gaza, By Simeon Kerr in Dubai and Vita Bekker in Jerusalem, http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0d0bb8de-1cf5-11e2-a17f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2MxwMs81t</ref> ],<ref name="france24.com">Is Qatar fuelling the crisis in north Mali? , France 24, Latest update: 23 January 2013 , http://www.france24.com/en/20130121-qatar-mali-france-ansar-dine-mnla-al-qaeda-sunni-islam-doha</ref> the ] (MUJAO)<ref name="france24.com" /> and the ].<ref name="nytimes.com">Editorial, Al Qaeda in Syria, 10 December 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/opinion/al-qaeda-in-syria.html?_r=0</ref> He is famous for helping to establish the first Arab international news network, ], when he provided a loan of ] 500 million ($137 million) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years.


==Early years and education== ==Early years and education==
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===Criticism and allegations of support to terrorist organizations=== ===Criticism and allegations of support to terrorist organizations===
In December 2012, ''the New York Times'' accused the Qatari government of funding the ], a U.S. government ].<ref name="nytimes.com"/> Others{{who|date=June 2013}} have noted the Emir's visit to Gaza and meeting with ], which houses a militant wing, ].<ref name="ft.com"/> In January 2013, French politicians again accused the Emir's government of giving material support to ] groups in Mali and the French newspaper ] quoted an unnamed source in French military intelligence saying that “The ], al Qaeda-linked ] and ] have all received cash from ].”<ref name="france24.com"/> In December 2012, ''the New York Times'' accused the Qatari government of funding the ], a U.S. government ].<ref name="nytimes.com">Editorial, Al Qaeda in Syria, 10 December 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/opinion/al-qaeda-in-syria.html?_r=0</ref> Others{{who|date=June 2013}} have noted the Emir's visit to Gaza and meeting with ], which houses a militant wing, ].<ref name="ft.com">23 October 2012 11:03 pm, Qatar emir in landmark trip to Gaza, By Simeon Kerr in Dubai and Vita Bekker in Jerusalem, http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0d0bb8de-1cf5-11e2-a17f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2MxwMs81t</ref> In January 2013, French politicians again accused the Emir's government of giving material support to ] groups in Mali and the French newspaper ] quoted an unnamed source in French military intelligence saying that “The ], al Qaeda-linked ] and ] have all received cash from ].”<ref name="france24.com">Is Qatar fuelling the crisis in north Mali? , France 24, Latest update: 23 January 2013 , http://www.france24.com/en/20130121-qatar-mali-france-ansar-dine-mnla-al-qaeda-sunni-islam-doha</ref>


==Marriages and children== ==Marriages and children==

Revision as of 06:51, 15 July 2013

Template:Arabic name

Not to be confused with Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani. Emir of Qatar
Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
حمد بن خليفة آل ثاني
Emir of Qatar
Reign27 June 1995 – 25 June 2013
PredecessorKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
SuccessorTamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Prime Ministers See list
Prime Minister of Qatar
Reign27 June 1995 – 29 October 1996
PredecessorKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
SuccessorAbdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
Born (1952-01-01) 1 January 1952 (age 73)
Doha, Qatar
SpouseMariam bint Muhammad
Mozah bint Nasser
Noora bint Khalid
IssueSee link
HouseHouse of Thani
FatherKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
MotherSheikha Al-Atiyyah
ReligionSunni Islam
Sheikh Hamad at the Metropolitan Museum (New York).
From left to right: Sheikha Mozah, second wife of the emir, Michelle Obama, First Lady of the United States, the Emir, and Barack Obama, U.S. President.

Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (Template:Lang-ar, born 1 January 1952) was the ruling Emir of the State of Qatar from 1995 to 2013.

He is famous for helping to establish the first Arab international news network, Al Jazeera, when he provided a loan of QAR 500 million ($137 million) to sustain Al Jazeera through its first five years.

Early years and education

Sheikh Hamad was born 1952. His mother died soon after the birth and he was raised by his brother.

He graduated from the British Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst in 1971 and commissioned as a lieutenant colonel. After graduation he was made commander of a mobile brigade, which later became an elite force called "Hamad Brigade". In 1972, Hamad forcefully had the rank of general, becoming army chief of staff. Next he was appointed commander-in-chief of Qatar's armed forces with the rank of major general. In 1977, He was also named as the minister of defense.

Sheikh Hamad was appointed Heir Apparent of Qatar in 1977 and assumed the post until 1995. In the early 1980s, he led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar's basic economic and social policies. Starting in 1992, Hamad had a growing responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country, including the development of Qatar's oil and natural gas resources. On 27 June 1995, after deposing his father in a palace coup, Sheikh Hamad became Emir of Qatar and was crowned on 20 June 2000.

Reign

In the early 1980s, Hamad led the Supreme Planning Council, which sets the Qatar's basic economic and social policies. Starting in 1992, Hamad's father handed over responsibility for the day-to-day running of the country, including the development of Qatar's oil and natural gas resources. With the support of his family, Sheikh Hamad took control of the country in 1995 while his father was on vacation abroad. While his father Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani was in Geneva, Switzerland, Hamad bin Khalifa deposed him in a bloodless 1995 coup d'état. Hamad bin Khalifa engaged an American law firm to freeze his father's bank accounts abroad, thereby defeating a possible countercoup. Thereafter, his father lived in exile in France and Abu Dhabi until he returned to Qatar in 2004.

The Emir is considered to be progressive among leaders of Muslim countries. In a break with the traditional role, his second wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned has been a visible advocate for education and children's causes.

A sportsman and an accomplished diver, Hamad has played an active role in promoting and developing athletics in Qatar. His activism has enhanced the country's involvement and performance in a number of international competitions, including: winning an Olympic medal in track and field; hosting a wide variety of international sporting events such as the 15th Asian Games, GCC, Asian and World Youth soccer championships; and initiating the Qatar Open Tennis Championship which has grown to become one of two premier tennis competitions in the Middle East.

Under his rule the Qatari government helped to fund the Al Jazeera news network, funding it by an emiri decree. In an analysis of Al Jazeera, Hugh Miles claimed that diplomats from other countries know that the Emir is the real power behind Al Jazeera but he also quotes a network spokesman denying 'countless times' this accusation, adding that many independent news sources also have subsidies from their respective governments without this implying editorial dabbling and explaining that trying to coerce the kind of journalists Al Jazeera has would be like trying to 'herd cats'. Sheik Hamad is a distant cousin of the network chairman, Hamad bin Thamer Al Thani, who was previously Minister of Information in the Emir Al-Thani government. Following the initial US$137 million grant from Emir Al-Thani, Al Jazeera had aimed to become self-sufficient through advertising by 2001, but when this failed to occur, the Emir agreed to several consecutive loans on a year-by-year basis (US$30 million in 2004, according to Arnaud de Borchgrave). At an 3 October 2001 press conference, Colin Powell tried to persuade Sheik Hamad to shut down Al Jazeera while The New York based organization Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting commented that in those efforts, "Powell and other U.S. officials were reportedly upset by the channel re-airing old interviews with bin Laden and the inclusion of guests that are too critical of the United States on its programs." The Washington Post reported in 2005 that Sheik Hamad was under pressure to privatize the network.

On 25 June 2013 Hamad handed over power to his son Tamin in a televised speech. In regards to the shift in power, Hamad said: "The time has come to open a new page in the journey of our nation that would have a new generation carry the responsibilities."

Foreign relations

The Emir made a $100 million donation for the relief of New Orleans following the 2005 Hurricane Katrina. He was a key person in the cease fire during the 2006 Lebanon War and contributed majorly in the relief of damaged areas. In 2012, the Emir proposed deploying Arab troops to reduce killings in the Syrian civil war. He provided two military bases for foreign troops, Al Udeid Air Base and Camp As Sayliyah.

Despite the prevalence of anti-Israel sentiment within the Arab world, he had previously maintained friendly relations with Israel. He met Foreign Minister of Israel Tzipi Livni (25 September 2007) in New York City. This marked the first real attempt by any leader in the Persian Gulf to pursue dialogue with Israel. However, Qatar severed diplomatic ties with Israel in 2009 in response to Israel's actions during the Gaza War. The emir has also expressed his objection to Israeli settlement policy, especially the Judaization of Jerusalem.

Visit to Gaza

In October 2012, the Emir made a landmark visit to Gaza by being the first head of state to go there since the 2006 election of Hamas and the imposition of a blockade by Israel. He took a flight to Egypt before being driven into Gaza. When there, the emir was thought to be launching a $254 million reconstruction project in the territory, and giving an address to the Palestinian people. Palestine's interior ministry was said to have a "well-prepared plan" to provide security for the emir during his stay. Incidents nevertheless continued.

Criticism and allegations of support to terrorist organizations

In December 2012, the New York Times accused the Qatari government of funding the Al-Nusra Front, a U.S. government designated terrorist organization. Others have noted the Emir's visit to Gaza and meeting with Hamas, which houses a militant wing, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades. In January 2013, French politicians again accused the Emir's government of giving material support to Islamist groups in Mali and the French newspaper Le Canard enchaîné quoted an unnamed source in French military intelligence saying that “The MNLA, al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine and MUJAO have all received cash from Doha.”

Marriages and children

Sheikh Hamad with Vladimir Putin, Russian president

Sheikh Hamad has three wives and twenty-four children, eleven sons and thirteen daughters:

  • He married his first wife H.H. Sheikha Mariam bint Muhammad Al Thani, who is the daughter of his first cousin, Sheikh Muhammad bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani. Hamad and his first wife have two sons and six daughters:
    • H.E. Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (born 1972)
    • H.E. Sheikh Fahd bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Aisha bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Mashael bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Fatima bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Rawdah bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Hussah bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Sara bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani – Program Coordinator for Reach Out to Asia-Qatar (ROTAQ)


  • Hamad also has a third wife, H.H. Sheikha Noora bint Khalid Al-Thani, daughter of H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, who was the minister of the interior. Together they have four sons and five daughters:
    • H.E. Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
    • H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani – president of the Al-Rayyan Sports Club
    • H.E. Sheikh Thani bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikh Al-Qaqa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Lulwaa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Maha bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Dana bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Al-Anood bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani
    • H.E. Sheikha Mariam bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani

Titles, styles and honours

Styles of
The Emir of Qatar
Reference styleHis Highness
Spoken styleYour Highness
Alternative styleSheikh

Titles and styles

This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.
Find sources: "Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (June 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
  • Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1952–1972)
  • His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani (1972–1977)
  • His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Heir Apparent of Qatar (1977–1995)
  • His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar (1995–2013)
  • His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, The Father Emir (2013–Present)

Honours and awards

Sheikh Hamad received numerous honours and awards, both during and before his time as Emir:

National orders

Other awards

Sports investments

Media sources claimed that Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani made a bid for Manchester United on 11 February 2011. Qatari Holdings offered £1.65 billion to Malcolm Glazer, the current American owner of the club. This follows a series of endeavors by the Emir and other Qataris into the World Football community, following Qatar's successful bid for the 2022 World Cup, and the Qatar Foundation's recent £125m shirt deal with FC Barcelona. In mid-June 2011, rumours resurfaced that Qatari Holdings were preparing a £2 Billion takeover bid and that the funding, that the club had been using for transfers since the start of June, was actually supplied by the Qataris and not the Glazer Family. In 2012 it was rumoured that Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani was in bid for Rangers F.C.. On 30 March 2012 Sheik Al Thani offered to buy KF Tirana, although the details aren't published yet.

See also

References

  1. Windfuhr, Volkhard; Zand, Bernhard (29 March 2009). "SPIEGEL Interview with the Emir of Qatar – 'We Are Coming to Invest'". Spiegel.de. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  2. Cohen, Noam (1 January 2009). "Al Jazeera provides an inside look at Gaza conflict". Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  3. Dickey, Christopher (25 June 2013). "Qatar's Succession Drama". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 28 June 2013.
  4. ^ "Qatar's Decision Makers - Hamad Background". APS Review. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
  5. "Sheikh Hamad's Biography". Amiri Diwan (State of Qatar). Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  6. ^ Harman, Danna (5 March 2007). "Backstory: The royal couple that put Qatar on the map". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 November 2010. He was of a new generation, open to the sorts of social, technological, economic, and political ideas from outside that his elders had never known. And, surrounding himself with young, Western-educated advisers, the new emir got right down to the business of remaking the national agenda of this traditional Wahhabi land.
  7. ^ "Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, Emir". Current Leaders of Nations (fee, via Fairfax County Public Library). Gale. 1998. GALE-K1610000166. Retrieved 2 March 2012. Gale Biography in Context. (subscription required)
  8. ** Diplomacy Volume 33. Diplomacy Company. 2007. p. 19.
  9. Sakr, Naomi (2001). Satellite Realms: Transnational Television, Globalization & the Middle East. London: I.B. Tauris. p. 57. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  10. ^ Miles, Hugh (2005). Al-Jazeera: The Inside Story of the Arab News Channel that is Challenging the West. New York: Grove Press. p. 346. Retrieved 6 March 2013. Books.Google.com
  11. de Borchgrave, Arnaud (6 May 2004). "Tutwiler's mission impossible". Washington Times. Archived from the original on 27 April 2006. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  12. Colin Powell, news conference with Sheik Hamad bin Khalifa Thani, 3 October 2001, Washington D.C.
  13. Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (December 2001). "Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting".
  14. Vedantam, Shankar (31 January 2005). "Qatar Advances Plans To Privatize Al-Jazeera". The Washington Post. Retrieved 23 April 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  15. "Qatari emir Sheikh Hamad hands power to son Tamim". BBC. 25 June 2013. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  16. Maierbrugger, Arno (25 June 2013). "Qatar emir resigns, hands over power to son". Inside Investor. Retrieved 25 June 2013.
  17. Nossiter, Adam (30 April 2008). "Emir of Qatar Tours New Orleans to See Fruit of His $100 Million Donation". New York Times. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  18. "Emir of Qatar favors Arab troops in Syria". CBS News. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  19. Israel Foreign Minister and the Emir of Qatar (ENGLISH). IsraelConsulate. 26 September 2007. Retrieved 2 March 2012. Israel Foreign Minister meets with the emir of Qatar in New York City. The interview is translated to English.
  20. Benhorin, Yitzhak (25 September 2007). "Livni has surprise meeting with Qatari emir". Ynetnews. Retrieved 1 March 2012. Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni met with the Emir of Qatar Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani Tuesday, in the highest-ranking meeting between Qatari and Israeli officials. The two met during a United Nations General Assembly summit in New York after the emir invited Livni and the Israeli delegation to join him in an unscheduled meeting outside of the UN headquarters. Officials said the meeting was "extremely positive." Livni discussed with the emir the importance of moderate Islamic nations – like Qatar – supporting the Palestinians in advancing the diplomatic process.
  21. Qatar, Mauritania cut Israel ties Al Jazeera. Date: Friday, 16 January 2009
  22. "Qatar emir: Arab identity in Jerusalem at risk". CBS News. 26 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
  23. "Qatari emir in historic Gaza visit". Al Jazeera. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  24. "Qatar ruler set for landmark visit to Gaza". BBC News. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  25. "Gaza blast ahead of Qatari's visit". Evening Herald. 23 October 2012. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  26. Editorial, Al Qaeda in Syria, 10 December 2012, http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/11/opinion/al-qaeda-in-syria.html?_r=0
  27. 23 October 2012 11:03 pm, Qatar emir in landmark trip to Gaza, By Simeon Kerr in Dubai and Vita Bekker in Jerusalem, http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/0d0bb8de-1cf5-11e2-a17f-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2MxwMs81t
  28. Is Qatar fuelling the crisis in north Mali? , France 24, Latest update: 23 January 2013 , http://www.france24.com/en/20130121-qatar-mali-france-ansar-dine-mnla-al-qaeda-sunni-islam-doha
  29. "Brunei". Nation Multimedia. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  30. http://www.aleqt.com/2013/06/27/article_766088.html
  31. http://www.gulf-times.com/qatar/178/details/357598/congratulations-pour-in-for-emir-and-father-emir
  32. "Order received". website Amiri Diwan. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  33. Boletín Oficial del Estado
  34. Presidenti Topi pret Emirin e Shtetit të Katarit, Sheikun Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, President of Albania (in Albanian)
  35. President Topi bestows the Gjergj Kastrioti Order upon Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Al Thani
  36. "Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour" (PDF) (in German). p. 1923. Retrieved 13 January 2013. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help)
  37. Decree number 675-08 by Leonel Fernandez Consultoria del Poder Ejecutivo (Spanish)
  38. Koningin zegt het met parels in Qatar – website of the Algemeen Dagblad (Dutch)
  39. Recipients of the order (Excel sheet) – website of the Romanian President
  40. Municipality of Tirana (in Albanian)
  41. "The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers". Foreign Policy. 26 November 2012. Archived from the original on 28 November 2012. Retrieved 28 November 2012. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  42. ESPNsoccernet staff (11 February 2011). "Qataris close to buying United – report". SoccerNet. ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
  43. "Barcelona agree record shirt deal". BBC News. 10 December 2010.
  44. Template:STV News
  45. "Familja e emirit të Katarit interesohet të blejë aksionet e Tiranës së futbollit". Panorama sport. 22 March 2012.

External links

Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani House of ThaniBorn: 1 January 1952
Regnal titles
Preceded byKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani Emir of Qatar
1995–2013 		Succeeded byTamim bin Hamad Al Thani
Political offices
Preceded byKhalifa bin Hamad Al Thani Prime Minister of Qatar
1995–1996 		Succeeded byAbdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani
Emirs of Qatar
Flag of Qatar
Prime ministers of Qatar
Flag of Qatar

Template:Persondata

  1. "Sheikh Hamad's Biography". Qatar Embassy. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  2. "Sheikh Hamad's Biography". Amiri Diwan (State of Qatar). Retrieved 6 March 2013.
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