Muhammad Najib ar-Ruba'i

His Excellency
Muhammad Najib Ar-Ruba'i
His Excellency Muhammad Najib Ar-Ruba'i
	Ar-Ruba'i in 1960
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	14 July 1904; Baghdad, Baghdad Vilayet, Ottoman Empire
Died	1965 (aged 60–61); Baghdad, Iraq
Nationality	Iraq
Political party	Independent
Occupation	President of Iraq (1958–63)
Signature
Military service
Allegiance	Iraq
Branch/service	Army
Years of service	1924-1963
Rank	Lieutenant General

Ar-Ruba'i in military uniform in 1959.

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 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

^ Cahoon, Ben (2000). "Iraq - Chronology" (web). worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 2008-05-25.
^ "Iraq PROFILE" (web). U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 2008-05-25.