Muhammad Najib ar-Ruba'i

Muhammad Najib Ar-Ruba'i
1st President of Iraq
In office
July 14, 1958  February 8, 1963
Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim
Preceded by Faisal II (as the King of Iraq)
Succeeded by Abdul Salam Arif
Personal details
Born 1904
Died 1965 (aged 6061)
Baghdad, Iraq
Nationality Iraqi
Occupation President of Iraq (1958-63)
Religion Sunni Islam

Muhammad Najib Ar-Ruba'i (Arabic: محمد نجيب الربيعي) (also spelled Al-Rubai) (1904-1965) was the first President of Iraq (Chairman of Sovereignty Council) from July 14, 1958 to February 8, 1963.[1]

Together with Abdul Karim Qassim,[2] he was one of the leaders of the coup that toppled King Faisal II in 1958. On October 7, 1959 there was an unsuccessful assassination attempt on his life by twenty-year-old Saddam Hussein.

While Qassim became prime minister and held most of the power, Rubai was elected head of state with the title of Chairman of the Sovereignty Council. The Sovereignty Council had a representative from each of the communal/ethnic groups. Rubai represented the Sunni community.

In 1963, Qassim was deposed by another coup led by Abd as-Salam Arif. Ar-Rubai had to retire from politics.

Ar-Ruba'i died in 1965.

References

  1. Cahoon, Ben (2000). "Iraq - Chronology" (web). worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
  2. "Iraq PROFILE". U.S. Department of State. Archived from the original (web) on 2008-05-16. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
Preceded by
Faisal II (as King of Iraq)
President of Iraq
July 14, 1958 February 8, 1963
Succeeded by
Abd as-Salam Arif
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