Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi
| Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi | |
|---|---|
| Emir of Ras al-Khaimah | |
| Reign | 17 July 1948 - 27 October 2010 |
| Predecessor | Sultan Bin Salem al-Qassimi |
| Heir Presumptive | Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi |
| Spouses | Sheikha Mahra bint Ahmed |
| Issue | Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi Sultan bin Saqr Al Qasimi Saud bin Saqr al Qasimi Mohammed bin Saqr Al Qasimi Omar bin Saqr Al Qasimi Talib bin Saqr Al Qasimi Faisal bin Saqr Al Qasimi |
Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qassimi (9 April 1918[citation needed] - 27 October 2010) was the Emir of Ras al-Khaimah, one of the United Arab Emirates, from 1948 to 2010.
He became the Ruler of Ras al-Khaimah on 17 July 1948,[1] when he overthrew his uncle and father-in-law Shaykh Sultan Bin Salem (or Salim) al-Qassimi in a bloodless coup d'etat. Shaykh Saqr exiled the Sultan to Sharjah. Under his rule, Ras al-Khaimah joined the United Arab Emirates in 1972.
At the time of his death in 2010, he was the world's oldest reigning monarch at age 92.
Personal Information
Shaikh Saqr belonged to Al Qasimi dynasty that ruled the northern part of the Greater Oman Region, following the fall of Ya’aribah state and emergence of Al Busayidi state in Sohar and Muscat in 1747. He was born in Ras Al Khaimah city, where he was brought up in an Islamic Arabic environment under the care of his father, Shaikh Mohammad Bin Salim, who ruled the emirate between 1917-1919. His ancestral line goes back to Rahma Bin Matar Bin Kayid, founder of Al Qasimi ruling in the region.
In his very early age he was endowed a particular parental care, where he received religious and academic education. He learned by heart many Quran verses, Prophetic Hadith, and principles of Islamic religion. He learned reading and writing by the help of famous clerics. Then he joined a semi-regular school in Ras Al Khaimah to learn reading and writing and principles of mathematics. He also learned oratory and Arabic arts.
Coup
Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad al-Qasimi became the ruler of the Sheikhdom of Ras Al Khaimah on 17 July 1948, after a bloodless takeover from his uncle and father-in-law Sheikh Sultan bin Salim al-Qassimi. Sheikh Saqr appointed his oldest son, Khalid bin Saqr Al Qasimi, as the Crown Prince of Ras Al Khaimah in 1974. Sheikh Khalid was replaced by Shaykh Saud bin Saqr on 28 April 2003[2], and Khalid chose the Omani capital Muscat for his unconditional exile. The elderly Shaykh Saqr was one of the longest serving rulers in the world. Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr currently plays the most active role in ruling Ras Al Khaimah.[citation needed]
Sheikh Saqr refused for Ras Al Khaimah to join the United Arab Emirates (UAE) when it was formed on 2 December 1971, because he claimed Iran had invaded two Ras Al Khaimah islands and one Sharjah island on November 30, 1970, and Sheikh Saqr wanted guarantees from the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan and the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al Maktoum of Dubai that the new UAE Federal Government would not relinquish claim to those islands (Abu Musa & the Greater and Lesser Tunbs). When the guarantee was granted, RAK joined the Federation of the United Arab Emirates on 24 February 1972.
Rise to power
After the 1948 coup, Sheikh Saqr had to gather the whole people of Ras Al Khaimah under his rule, and deal with the Bedouins (the People of the Deserts) from the south, the low land Mountaineers from the east, and a combination of Highlands Shihuhs and other tribes from the north, who had disagreed with the coup. This resulted in Sheikh Saqr's followers fighting those who opposed his rule. During that period, many people died fighting without knowing whom they were fighting against, as they did not know that Shaykh Sultan Bin Salem Al Qassimi had been exiled to Sharjah.
After Shaykh Saqr gained complete control on the whole country of Ras Al Khaimah, and in order to avoid further bloodshed among the tribes, he appointed Shaykhs (heads of tribes) in each tribe to keep each people within their area. The tribal Shaykh was the coordinator between the Ruler and the people of Ras Al Khaimah, and none of the tribes had the right to meet with the Ruler without the permission of its Shaykh. This system was set up to ease previous tensions and facilitate the affairs of the tribes. While the influence of the tribes has weakened since Ras Al Khaimah joined the United Arab Emirates in 1972 (the last country to join), the local Government still respects the Shaykhs of each tribe for their loyalty.
Succession
As of July 2010, Sheikh Saqr is reported to be dying. A struggle for his succession broke out among his sons and other important individuals. Khalid, the oldest son, was crown prince until 2003, when he was deposed by Sheikh Saqr for what was put as being less effective than Sheikh Saud. He has started a a large-scale public relations campaign with the goal to pressure the United States and the United Arab Emirates into supporting his claims of succession; as part of this campaign, he is attempting to discredit the current government, which is led by another son of Sheikh Saqr, Saud, the current crown prince.[3]
Death
Shaikh Saqr bin Mohammed Al Qasimi died, after being ill for several months, on 27 October 2010.[4]
Family
Some info about his major sons can be found above.
Also, on 11 December 2009 the Emirates New Agency, WAM, announced that Sheikh Sultan bin Saqr, son of Sheikh Saqr al Qassimi, had died that morning.[5]
References
- ^ "The United Arab Emirates at a glance". Associated Press Archive (NewsLibrary). November 2, 2004. Retrieved 2009-06-22.
Sheik Saqr bin Mohammad Al Qassimi, who has ruled since 1948, is the world's longest-serving ruler.
(Payment required) - ^ http://www.arabianbusiness.com/ruler-of-ras-al-khaimah-dies-358330.html
- ^ Spiegel Online, 5 July 2010
- ^ UAE mourns Ras Al Khaimah ruler
- ^ http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1258110930466&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews