Jassem Al-Kharafi
Jassem al-Kharafi | |
|---|---|
جاسم محمد عبدالمحسن الخرافي | |
 | |
| Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly | |
| In office June 20, 2012 – October 7, 2012 | |
| Preceded by | Ahmed al-Sadoun |
| Succeeded by | Ali al-Rashid |
| In office July 17, 1999 – December 6, 2011 | |
| Preceded by | Ahmed al-Sadoun |
| Succeeded by | Ahmed al-Sadoun |
| Minister of Finance | |
| In office March 3, 1985 – June 12, 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Ali Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah |
| Succeeded by | Nasser Abdullah Al-Roudhan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1940 Kuwait City, Kuwait |
| Died | May 21, 2015 (age 75) |
| Relations | Nasser al-Kharafi (brother) Faiza al-Kharafi (sister) Fawzi al-Kharafi (brother) Marzouq al-Ghanim (nephew) |
| Children | 6 |
| Parent | Mohammed al-Kharafi |
Jassem Al-Kharafi, (Arabic: جاسم محمد عبدالمحسن الخرافي, 1940 – May 21, 2015) was a Kuwaiti oligarch who was the speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from 1999 to 2011.[1] In his capacity as Speaker in 2006, Al-Kharafi played a critical role in the ascension of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah to the emirship of Kuwait by coordinating a no-confidence vote of the incumbent emir, Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah.[2] During the reign of Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, his family conglomerate, M.A. Kharafi & Sons, dominated several sectors of the Kuwaiti economy, including construction, telecommunications and investment.[3]
Early life and career
[edit]Jassem al-Kharafi was born in Kuwait City in 1940, the son of Mohammed Abdulmohsen al-Kharafi, the founder of M. A. Kharafi & Sons.[4] Al-Kharafi studied Business Administration at the Manchester Trade Faculty in Kuwait and was director of M. A. Kharafi & Sons before being elected to the National Assembly in 1975.[5] He was the Minister of Finance from 1985 to 1990.[6]
Political positions
[edit]Views on Iran
[edit]On July 13, 2008, Al-Kharafi publicly accused the West of provoking Iran on the nuclear issue. In his interview with state-owned Kuwait TV, Al-Kharafi said, "What is happening is that there are provocative Western statements, and Iran responds in the same way... I believe that a matter this sensitive needs dialogue not escalation, and it shouldn't be dealt with as if Iran were one of America's states."[7]
Criticism of Parliamentary Human Right Committee
[edit]On July 1, 2008, Al-Kharafi criticized the assembly's human rights committee for holding a meeting with US embassy officials without asking permission from the speaker.[This quote needs a citation] The meeting occurred on June 30, 2008, to discuss the latest US State Department report that accorded Kuwait a tier three status on trafficking in people for its treatment of domestic helpers and foreign workers. Later, the head of the committee, Waleed Al-Tabtabai, said the meeting was held on the basis of a request by the embassy and that the committee has not "overstepped the authorities of the speaker or the foreign ministry," adding that the committee had received similar requests in the past.[This quote needs a citation]
The US embassy officials were reported to have refused to discuss the US decision to freeze the assets of the Revival of Islamic Heritage Society.[8]
Israeli attacks on Lebanon
[edit]In July 2006, he vigorously denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon saying that the war would "turn us all into terrorists".[9][10]
Speaker of Kuwaiti National Assembly
[edit]Al-Kharafi was elected Speaker of the National Assembly in 1999. He served as Speaker for five terms, the most in Kuwait's history, until deciding that he would not stand for reelection in the 2012 National Assembly elections.[11]
Family
[edit]His brother Nasser ran M. A. Kharafi & Sons, and was listed by Forbes as one of the richest people in the world. His sister, Faiza, was rector of Kuwait University. The University of Tirana on 7 October 2011 awarded him an Honoris Causa title.[12]
References
[edit]- ^ (in Arabic)Former Presidents of the National Assembly Archived 2019-01-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Ulrichsen, Kristian; Henderson, Simon (October 4, 2019). "Kuwait: A Changing System Under Stress". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
- ^ "MA Al-Kharafi & Sons". MEED. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
- ^ "Kuwaiti billioanire Jassim Al-Kharafi dies at 75". Dhow News. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
- ^ "العائلات". Gsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ^ "وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت". www.mof.gov.kw.
- ^ "Search - Global Edition - the New York Times". www.iht.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Kuwait: US embassy meeting with right panel angers Khorafi - Google Search". Google.com. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ^ ISN Editors. "Articles / Security Watch / ISN". Ethz.ch. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ "Kuwait magnate Jassem Al Kharafi dies at 75". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
- ^ "الخرافي: لن أخوض الانتخابات".
- ^ "UT i jep "Honoris Causa" Mohammad Al-Kharaf". Gazeta Panorama Online. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
External links
[edit]- Kharafi parliament's profile
- A 2003 Interview
- We Are Grateful to the U.S. for Liberating Kuwait but the Americans Are Patronizing aired on Al-Majd TV on 21 January 2007