Jassem Al-Kharafi

Jassem al-Kharafi
Jassem al-Kharafi
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
6th Minister of Finance
In office March 3, 1985 – June 12, 1990
Preceded by	Ali al-Khalifa al-Sabah
Succeeded by	Ali al-Khalifa al-Sabah
Personal details
Born	1940 Kuwait City, Kuwait
Died	May 21, 2015 (age 75)
Nationality	Kuwaiti
Relations	Nasser al-Kharafi (brother) Faiza al-Kharafi (sister) Fawzi al-Kharafi (brother) Marzouq al-Ghanim (nephew)
Children	6
Parents	Mohammed al-Kharafi

Jassem Al-Kharafi, (Arabic: جاسم محمد عبدالمحسن الخرافي‎), (1940 – May 21, 2015) was a Kuwaiti billionaire businessman who was the speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly from 1999 to 2011.^[1] 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. He affiliated with the liberal deputies and was regarded as a pro-government liberal.^[2] However, Al-Kharafi has broken with the royal family on occasion. He criticized the ruling Al-Sabah family, and in July 2006 vigorously denounced the Israeli attacks on Lebanon saying that the war would "turn us all into terrorists".^[3][4]

Al-Kharafi's family is wealthy. His brother Nasser 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 gave him an Honoris Causa title.^[5]

Early life[]

Jassem al-Kharafi was born in Kuwait City in 1940, the son of Mohammed Abdulmohsen al-Kharafi, the founder of M. A. Kharafi & Sons.^[6]

Minister of finance[]

He was the Minister of Finance from 1985 to 1990.^[7]

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."^[8]

Criticism of Human Right Committee's neglect of protocol[]

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.^[9]

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.^[10]

References[]

External links[]

• 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