Editing Politics of Bahrain (section)

===Insurgencies===
The government of Bahrain does not face any immediate threats from individuals or organizations that seek to undermine its [[sovereignty]]. In the past, however, it has been forced to contend with political uprisings. The government foiled an attempted coup in 1981. The disaffection of Bahrain's [[Shi’a]] majority precipitated a series of violent incidents in the 1990s. [[Legislative]] reforms aimed at addressing the estranged population's underlying grievances initially held the violence in check. In 1996 tensions resurfaced, however, and a number of hotel and restaurant bombings resulted in numerous casualties. The government subsequently arrested over 1,000 individuals for their alleged participation in the incidents and proceeded to hold them without trial.

Shaikh Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa assumed the throne in March 1999 upon the death of his father, Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the ruler of Bahrain since 1961. He continued to implement democratic reforms, including the transformation of Bahrain from a hereditary emirate to a [[constitutional monarchy]], and in so doing changed his status from [[emir]] to [[Monarch|king]]. He also pardoned all political prisoners and detainees, including those who had been arrested for their unsubstantiated participation in the 1996 bombings as well as abolishing the State Security Law and the State Security Court, which had permitted the government to detain individuals without trial for up to 3 years.

In February 2011 a series of protests by the Shia majority began which became the [[Bahraini uprising (2011–present)|Bahraini uprising]].