1602-1783 Persia (now Iran) rules Bahrain.
1783 Al-Khalifa clan of Arabs takes over Bahrain, beginning more than two centuries of uninterrupted rule.
1861 Bahrain becomes a British protectorate.
1932 Bahrain is first Persian Gulf state in which petroleum is discovered.
1956 Bahrainis demonstrate for political reforms.
1970 Sheikh Isa-bin Salman al-Khalifa surrenders part of his power as emir to council of state.
1971 (Aug. 15) Bahrain declares itself fully independent after Great Britain withdraws.
1973 Bahrain adopts constitution guaranteeing citizens fundamental rights of freedom.
1973 Democratic national assembly is formed.
1975 Emir disbands national assembly.
1981 Bahrain helps form Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
1990-1991 Bahrain joins with United States and other countries to help expel Iraqi occupation force from Kuwait.
1993 (Jan.) Emir forms consulting group representing Bahraini citizens.
1994- 1995 Bahrainis staged mass protests to encourage prodemocracy reforms.
1995- 1996 Civil unrest and rioting breaks out again.
1997 Students and women demonstrate in Manama to protest government repression.
The armed forces, the security service, and powerful Sunni merchant families.
The majority of the Bahraini people, the Shiite Muslims, are often the victims of military abuse and are discriminated against in public employment, educational opportunities, and in sharing the wealth and resources of the country, all of which lead to friction and conflict between the Shiites and the Sunnis.
In January, 1993, the emir appointed a thirty-member consulting group to contribute their advice and opinions on the government's legislation, and in certain cases, to suggest new laws. However, since their input was virtually disregarded by the emir and his government, prodemocracy demonstrations calling for more substantial political reforms erupted in late 1994 and early 1995, including sporadic mass protests, skirmishes with local law-enforcement officials, arson, and attacks on property. Anum-ber of the protesters were killed or injured by Bahraini security
1997 Clashes break out between Bahraini citizens and security forces.
1997 Emir makes moderate political changes.
1998 Citizens continue to oppose government, calling for protection of human and constitutional rights.
1998 (Feb. 19) Government dismisses head of intelligence service, Ian Henderson, whom Shiite dissidents have accused of repressing protests against Sunni-dominated government.
1999 (Mar. 6) Sheikh Isa-bin Salman al-Khalifa dies and is succeeded as ruler of Bahrain by his son, Sheikh Hamed bin Isa al-Khalifa.
1999 (July 17) Government sentences opposition leader Sheikh Abdul Amir Jamri to ten years in prison for spying and causing civil unrest against Khalifa family.
2000 (Feb.) Bahraini government grants citizenship to several hundred stateless Shiites in Bahrain and promises to establish elective councils.
2001 (Feb.) Bahraini voters approve a referendum on a charter for a plan of change that includes parliamentary elections and reorganization of the government.
2002 (Sept. 18) Bahrain's foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Mubarak al-Khalifa, announces Bahrain's support for Iraq's announcement that it will allow U. N. weapons inspectors back into Iraq.
2002 (Oct. 24-31) Secular candidates win small majority in legislative elections.
2003 (Mar. 19) Bahrain offers asylum to Iraqi president Saddam Hussein on eve of U. S.-led invasion of Iraq.
Forces. In June, 1995, in an effort to stop the rioting, the emir made the first Bahraini cabinet change in twenty years, producing a mixed public response.
Civil unrest broke out again in late 1995 and early 1996. Eight prominent Bahraini religious and community leaders were arrested in January, 1996, and held without charge or trial. During 1996 and 1997, the government waged a vigorous campaign against its citizens to deter them from demanding any political reforms. In March, 1997, women demonstrators advocating a more democratic government were attacked with rubber bullets and tear gas by military personnel.
Later that same month, students raised their prodemocracy demands by staging demonstrations in some of the secondary schools in the capital city of Manama, but their efforts were soon squelched by the emir's security service, which consisted mainly of foreign mercenaries recruited by the emir. At the end of March, 1997, Bahrain was in a state of high alert, as citizens were embark-
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