Jassem Al-Kharafi

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Jassem al-Kharafi
جاسم محمد عبدالمحسن الخرافي
Speaker of the Kuwait National Assembly
In office
June 20, 2012 – October 7, 2012
Preceded byAhmed al-Sadoun
Succeeded byAli al-Rashid
In office
July 17, 1999 – December 6, 2011
Preceded byAhmed al-Sadoun
Succeeded byAhmed al-Sadoun
Minister of Finance
In office
March 3, 1985 – June 12, 1990
Preceded byAli Al-Khalifa Al-Sabah
Succeeded byNasser Abdullah Al-Roudhan
Personal details
Born1940
Kuwait City, Kuwait
DiedMay 21, 2015 (age 75)
RelationsNasser al-Kharafi (brother)
Faiza al-Kharafi (sister)
Fawzi al-Kharafi (brother)
Marzouq al-Ghanim (nephew)
Children6
ParentMohammed al-Kharafi

Jassem Al-Kharafi, (

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

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

Views on Iran

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

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.[

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

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

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

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

  1. ^ (in Arabic)Former Presidents of the National Assembly Archived 2019-01-22 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ Ulrichsen, Kristian; Henderson, Simon (October 4, 2019). "Kuwait: A Changing System Under Stress". The Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
  3. ^ "MA Al-Kharafi & Sons". MEED. 2010-02-02. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  4. ^ "Kuwaiti billioanire Jassim Al-Kharafi dies at 75". Dhow News. 22 May 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. ^ "العائلات". Gsu.edu. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  6. ^ "وزارة المالية - دولة الكويت". www.mof.gov.kw.
  7. ^ "Search - Global Edition - the New York Times". www.iht.com. Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Kuwait: US embassy meeting with right panel angers Khorafi - Google Search". Google.com. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  9. ^ ISN Editors. "Articles / Security Watch / ISN". Ethz.ch. Retrieved 2015-11-19. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Kuwait magnate Jassem Al Kharafi dies at 75". Khaleej Times. Archived from the original on 2015-05-25. Retrieved 2015-11-19.
  11. ^ "الخرافي: لن أخوض الانتخابات".
  12. ^ "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

Political offices
Preceded by
Speaker of National Assembly of Kuwait

1999–2012 		Succeeded by
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