Bahrain's Faisal laid to rest

Manama: Bahrain yesterday bid a tearful goodbye to Shaikh Faisal, the 14-year-old son of His Majesty King Hamad Bin Eisa Al Khalifa who died on Thursday afternoon in a car accident.

King Hamad, senior members of the Al Khalifa family and a large crowd performed the funeral prayer at the Shaikh Eisa Mosque in Riffa yesterday morning before Shaikh Faisal was buried in the nearby Riffa cemetery.

The King, Prime Minister Shaikh Khalifa Bin Salman Al Khalifa and Crown Prince Shaikh Salman Bin Hamad Al Khalifa later received officials and people who offered their sympathies and condolences.

The dignitaries who flew to Bahrain to pay respects included His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who extended the condolences of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and the people of the UAE; and His Highness Shaikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.

King Hamad was also condoled by leaders of Arab countries who made telephone calls or sent cables of condolences.

The front pages of most newspapers appeared in black and white as a sign of respect to the memory of the deceased. Obituaries and testimonies from people who were close to Shaikh Faisal paid tribute to "the Rose of Bahrain", a title that Al Ayam used on its front page.

"He seemed much wiser than his years and was always sensible in his deeds and words. Whenever he needed advice, he asked for it without any complex and was always keen on learning more from all people, regardless of their backgrounds," one of his companions, Jaber Al Merri, was quoted by a newspaper.

"He was a very modest person who never wanted to show off. He was invariably compassionate and never made people feel that he was the son of His Majesty the King," Al Merri said.

Mosque clerics in their Friday sermons paid homage to the young man and highlighted his contribution to charity funds and associations for the disabled.

He was also an active supporter of athletic activities, particularly horse competitions, maritime races and football matches.

Shaikh Faisal, an eighth grader in Ibn Khuldoon School, died in a traffic crash as the Audi car in which he was a passenger sought to avoid a bus that apparently changed lanes unexpectedly.

He was the sixth son of King Hamad who has seven sons and four daughters.