Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim Religion Sunni Islam Succeeded by Abdul Salam Arif | Nationality Iraqi Died 1965, Baghdad, Iraq Children Baraa Najib al-Ruba'i | |
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Preceded by Faisal II (as the King of Iraq) Occupation President of Iraq (1958-63) Presidential term 14 July 1958 – 8 February 1963 Previous office President of Iraq (1958–1963) Similar Abdul Salam Arif, Abdul Rahman Arif, Abd al‑Karim Qasim, Ahmed Hassan al‑Bakr, Jalal Talabani | ||
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.
Together with Abdul Karim Qassim, 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.