Muhammad Najib ar-Ruba'i

1st President of IraqIn office
14 July 1958 – 8 February 1963Prime MinisterAbd al-Karim QasimPreceded byFaisal II (as the King of Iraq)Succeeded byAbdul Salam Arif Personal detailsBorn(1904-07-14)14 July 1904
Baghdad, Baghdad Vilayet, Ottoman EmpireDied1965 (aged 60–61)
Baghdad, IraqNationalityIraqiPolitical partyIndependentOccupationPresident of Iraq (1958–63)SignatureMilitary serviceAllegiance IraqBranch/service ArmyYears of service1924-1963Rank Lieutenant General

Muhammad Najib ar-Ruba'i (Arabic: محمد نجيب الربيعي) (also spelled Al-Rubaiy) (1904–1965) was the first president of Iraq (Chairman of Sovereignty Council), from 14 July 1958 to 8 February 1963.^[1] Together with Abdul Karim Qassim,^[2] he was one of the leaders of the 14 July Revolution that toppled King Faisal II in 1958.

While Qassim became prime minister and held most of the power, Ar-Ruba'i 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. Ar-Ruba'i represented the Sunni community.^{[citation needed]}

In 1963, Qassim was deposed by another coup led by Abd as-Salam Arif. Ar-Ruba'i had to retire from politics. Ar-Ruba'i died in 1965.

References

Preceded by Faisal II (as King of Iraq)

President of Iraq 14 July 1958 – 8 February 1963

Succeeded by Abd as-Salam Arif