Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr
Encyclopedia
General Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr (Arabic
أحمد حسن البكر ) (July 1, 1914 – October 4, 1982), was the fourth President of Iraq
from 1968 to 1979.
. During his early military career, he took part in the Rashid Ali revolt in 1941, was arrested, imprisoned, and compulsorily retired from the army, but was reinstated in 1957.
As a brigadier general, he was one of the "free officers," a group that overthrew the monarchy in 1958. He was again forced to retire from the Army in 1959 under allegations that he led a rebellion in Mosul
by officers who favoured closer ties with the United Arab Republic
.
A leading member of the Ba'ath Party he orchestrated the 1963 coup
that overthrew Iraq's military leader Abdul Karim Kasim. He became Prime Minister
and Vice President but left the government in November 1963 - after ten months - when Field Marshal Abdul Salam Arif
staged a countercoup. He remained Vice President until he was removed in January 1964.
Al-Bakr retained control of the regional command of the Ba'th Party and in 1968. With Abdul-Razzaq Al-Naif and Abdul-Rahman Al-Dawood, High ranking military officers in Army and Presidential Guard, he orchestrated an internal "bloodless" coup within the government of President Abdul Rahman Arif
on the 17th of July 1968. Arif was exiled and al-Bakr installed as president.
Initially, it was not made public that Ba'ath party participated in the successful "revolution". Probably because the Iraqi public had bad memories of extreme violence by (Al-Haras Al-Qawmi), the militias of the Ba'ath party in 1963.
With Insistence from Saddam Hussein and the help of other Ba'athists, he then acted the leading role of a second coup to get rid of the Nasserist
officers (Al-Naif and Al-Dawood) who were then exiled on 30th of July 1968. Saddam Hussein was one of two armed men standing behind Al-Bakr when he appeared on television to announce the second "revolution" on the evening of 30 July 1968.
Soon after that, the media started gradually introducing the knowledge that the Ba'ath Party was the actual lead in the country.
Contrary to Saddam Hussein, Al-Bakr was said to be quite fond of "medical doctors" and used to visit Baghdad University Medical School (Medical College) every few months for a tea and a chat with his close friend Tahseen Ma'alla who was the Medical school dean.
In 1970, He passed a law to make it possible for sons and daughters of Ministers and University Deans to be exempt from any entry rules to any college they chose. This is thought to be in anticipation of his son Mohammed graduation from secondary school, who was then admitted in 1972 to Baghdad university Medical College despite his lack of the normally high marks required for acceptance.
Al-Bakr was quite strict with his family, who were raised to reasonably respect other people. His son Mohammed was expelled in 1973 from a Physiology lecture by Professor Sadiq Al-Hilali because he was "not paying enough attention and chewing gum during lecture". Nothing adverse happened to Al-Hilali as a consequence and probably Mohammed never dared tell his father.
His son Mohammed never graduated from Medical school. He died in 1974 as a result of a head-on collision with a lorry on an intercity main road north of Baghdad. The lorry driver was soon released without charge after it became clear that Mohammed was dangerously overtaking at excessive speed in the Mercedes he was driving.
His eldest son, Haytham Al-Bakr, never stopped working as a lawyer from his office in Karrada (South Baghdad), even during his father's presidency or after he died.
His daughters were schooled in the famously good and strict Christian Convent girls school of Rahibat Al-Taqdomah. They were known to be very well behaved, mingling very well with all other girls and not showing any of the superiority and arrogance that became the usual behaviour of Khayr-Allah Tolfah's (his brother in law) daughter, who joind the school later on. It is reported that Khayr-Allah Tolfah's daughter disagreed with a Kurd girl's opinion in a "Religion" lesson then secret service, sent by her father Tolfah the next morning, arrested the young girl who was then reportedly released after a few days but never joined the school again.
and was praised as "leader of the revolution."
He quickly nationalized the Iraq Petroleum Company and compensated all foreign oil companies operating within its borders while introducing wide-ranging social and economic reforms.
The country enjoyed a massive increase in oil revenues starting in late 1973 when international petroleum prices began a steep rise. His economic policy began with a cautious continuation of the former regime's five-year plan but turned toward industrial expansion as oil revenues increased.
His government initially supported closer ties with Nasser
, and under his rule Iraq almost joined the United Arab Republic
. The flag of Iraq
was modified in preparation for this goal. However, the relationship with Nasser deteriorated and the Iraqi media led a campaign to counteract and reverse the wide Iraqi street support of Nasser with some regular comedy based Radio shows famously known as "G'ood's program". The program was suddenly terminated when Nasser died.
Bakr's regime also strengthened Iraq's ties with the Soviet Union
: On April 9, 1972, Iraq and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship. The two countries agreed to cooperate in political, economic, and military affairs. The Soviet Union also agreed to supply Iraq with arms.
His government also aided Syria
with troops and weapons during the Tishreen War of October 1973. Calling for military action against Israel
, he denounced the cease-fire that ended the 1973 conflict and opposed the interim agreements negotiated by Egypt
and Syria. Iraq was able to hurt the Western economy when it participated in the oil
boycott
against Israel's supporters.
Under Bakr conflicts intensified between the government and the Kurds. In early 1974 heavy fighting erupted in northern Iraq between government forces and Kurdish
nationalists, who rejected as inadequate a new Kurdish autonomy law based on a 1970 agreement. The Kurds, led by Mustafa al-Barzani, received arms and support from Iran
. Around this same time he founded the National Progressive Front
in an effort to broaden the support base for his government.
After Iraq agreed in early 1975 to make major concessions to Iran in settling their border disputes, Iran halted aid to the Kurds, and the revolt was dealt a severe blow.
In July 1978 a decree was passed which made all non-Ba'thist political activity illegal and membership of any other political party punishable by death
for all those who were members or former members of the Armed Forces.
, his Tikriti cousin, as Vice President
upon attaining power in 1968. In 1976, Saddam (who had never served in the armed forces) took the title of general in the Ba'th party's Popular Army and rapidly became the strongman
of the government. As the weak, elderly al-Bakr became unable to execute his duties, Saddam took on an increasingly prominent role as the face of the government both internally and externally, eventually becoming de-facto leader of Iraq some years before he formally became president.
On July 16, 1979, the 65-year-old Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr stepped down, ostensibly on health grounds, and Saddam Hussein assumed the presidency in a move that was widely regarded as a formality. It is commonly believed, based on accounts of witnesses, that Saddam forced the president to step down under threat of being removed by force. Immediately thereafter, Saddam had several top members of the Ba'ath party arrested and later executed under claim of espionage
.
Al-Bakr died in 1982 of unreported causes.
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...
أحمد حسن البكر ) (July 1, 1914 – October 4, 1982), was the fourth President of Iraq
President of Iraq
The President of Iraq is the head of state of Iraq and "safeguards the commitment to the Constitution and the preservation of Iraq's independence, sovereignty, unity, the security of its territories in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution." The President is elected by the Council of...
from 1968 to 1979.
Military career
Al-Bakr entered the Iraqi Military Academy in 1938 after spending six years as a primary-school teacherTeacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
. During his early military career, he took part in the Rashid Ali revolt in 1941, was arrested, imprisoned, and compulsorily retired from the army, but was reinstated in 1957.
As a brigadier general, he was one of the "free officers," a group that overthrew the monarchy in 1958. He was again forced to retire from the Army in 1959 under allegations that he led a rebellion in Mosul
Mosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
by officers who favoured closer ties with the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
.
A leading member of the Ba'ath Party he orchestrated the 1963 coup
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
that overthrew Iraq's military leader Abdul Karim Kasim. He became Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
and Vice President but left the government in November 1963 - after ten months - when Field Marshal Abdul Salam Arif
Abdul Salam Arif
Abdul Salam Mohammed Arif Aljumaily was President of Iraq from 1963 till his death. He played a leading role in the coup in which the Hashemite monarchy was overthrown on July 14, 1958.-1958 revolution and conflict with Qasim:...
staged a countercoup. He remained Vice President until he was removed in January 1964.
Al-Bakr retained control of the regional command of the Ba'th Party and in 1968. With Abdul-Razzaq Al-Naif and Abdul-Rahman Al-Dawood, High ranking military officers in Army and Presidential Guard, he orchestrated an internal "bloodless" coup within the government of President Abdul Rahman Arif
Abdul Rahman Arif
Hajj Abdul Rahman Mohammed Arif Aljumaily was president of Iraq from April 16, 1966 to July 17, 1968.-Biography:...
on the 17th of July 1968. Arif was exiled and al-Bakr installed as president.
Initially, it was not made public that Ba'ath party participated in the successful "revolution". Probably because the Iraqi public had bad memories of extreme violence by (Al-Haras Al-Qawmi), the militias of the Ba'ath party in 1963.
With Insistence from Saddam Hussein and the help of other Ba'athists, he then acted the leading role of a second coup to get rid of the Nasserist
Nasserism
Nasserism is an Arab nationalist political ideology based on the thinking of the former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser. It was a major influence on pan-Arab politics in the 1950s and 1960s, and continues to have significant resonance throughout the Arab World to this day. It also...
officers (Al-Naif and Al-Dawood) who were then exiled on 30th of July 1968. Saddam Hussein was one of two armed men standing behind Al-Bakr when he appeared on television to announce the second "revolution" on the evening of 30 July 1968.
Soon after that, the media started gradually introducing the knowledge that the Ba'ath Party was the actual lead in the country.
Personal life
After he became president, his house during the 1960s, just south of Al-Kadhimiyah, became the Ba'ath party Museum in the 1970s. The museum showed, among other things, some of his and Saddam's possessions. It showed his Volkswagen Beetle and Saddam's Mercedes. It was widely circulated that he had a cow in his garden to supply the household with "fresh milk"Contrary to Saddam Hussein, Al-Bakr was said to be quite fond of "medical doctors" and used to visit Baghdad University Medical School (Medical College) every few months for a tea and a chat with his close friend Tahseen Ma'alla who was the Medical school dean.
In 1970, He passed a law to make it possible for sons and daughters of Ministers and University Deans to be exempt from any entry rules to any college they chose. This is thought to be in anticipation of his son Mohammed graduation from secondary school, who was then admitted in 1972 to Baghdad university Medical College despite his lack of the normally high marks required for acceptance.
Al-Bakr was quite strict with his family, who were raised to reasonably respect other people. His son Mohammed was expelled in 1973 from a Physiology lecture by Professor Sadiq Al-Hilali because he was "not paying enough attention and chewing gum during lecture". Nothing adverse happened to Al-Hilali as a consequence and probably Mohammed never dared tell his father.
His son Mohammed never graduated from Medical school. He died in 1974 as a result of a head-on collision with a lorry on an intercity main road north of Baghdad. The lorry driver was soon released without charge after it became clear that Mohammed was dangerously overtaking at excessive speed in the Mercedes he was driving.
His eldest son, Haytham Al-Bakr, never stopped working as a lawyer from his office in Karrada (South Baghdad), even during his father's presidency or after he died.
His daughters were schooled in the famously good and strict Christian Convent girls school of Rahibat Al-Taqdomah. They were known to be very well behaved, mingling very well with all other girls and not showing any of the superiority and arrogance that became the usual behaviour of Khayr-Allah Tolfah's (his brother in law) daughter, who joind the school later on. It is reported that Khayr-Allah Tolfah's daughter disagreed with a Kurd girl's opinion in a "Religion" lesson then secret service, sent by her father Tolfah the next morning, arrested the young girl who was then reportedly released after a few days but never joined the school again.
President of the Republic (July 1968 – July 1979)
Al-Bakr became the leading face of the Ba'ath party and Iraqi pan-ArabismPan-Arabism
Pan-Arabism is an ideology espousing the unification--or, sometimes, close cooperation and solidarity against perceived enemies of the Arabs--of the countries of the Arab world, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Arabian Sea. It is closely connected to Arab nationalism, which asserts that the Arabs...
and was praised as "leader of the revolution."
He quickly nationalized the Iraq Petroleum Company and compensated all foreign oil companies operating within its borders while introducing wide-ranging social and economic reforms.
The country enjoyed a massive increase in oil revenues starting in late 1973 when international petroleum prices began a steep rise. His economic policy began with a cautious continuation of the former regime's five-year plan but turned toward industrial expansion as oil revenues increased.
His government initially supported closer ties with Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Gamal Abdel Nasser Hussein was the second President of Egypt from 1956 until his death. A colonel in the Egyptian army, Nasser led the Egyptian Revolution of 1952 along with Muhammad Naguib, the first president, which overthrew the monarchy of Egypt and Sudan, and heralded a new period of...
, and under his rule Iraq almost joined the United Arab Republic
United Arab Republic
The United Arab Republic , often abbreviated as the U.A.R., was a sovereign union between Egypt and Syria. The union began in 1958 and existed until 1961, when Syria seceded from the union. Egypt continued to be known officially as the "United Arab Republic" until 1971. The President was Gamal...
. The flag of Iraq
Flag of Iraq
The flag of Iraq consists of the three equal horizontal red, white, and black bands of the Arab Liberation Flag. The flag has been in use since 1963, with several changes to the green symbols in the central white band, the most recent version bearing the Takbir rendered in green. Following the U.S...
was modified in preparation for this goal. However, the relationship with Nasser deteriorated and the Iraqi media led a campaign to counteract and reverse the wide Iraqi street support of Nasser with some regular comedy based Radio shows famously known as "G'ood's program". The program was suddenly terminated when Nasser died.
Bakr's regime also strengthened Iraq's ties with the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
: On April 9, 1972, Iraq and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of friendship. The two countries agreed to cooperate in political, economic, and military affairs. The Soviet Union also agreed to supply Iraq with arms.
His government also aided Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
with troops and weapons during the Tishreen War of October 1973. Calling for military action against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, he denounced the cease-fire that ended the 1973 conflict and opposed the interim agreements negotiated by Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
and Syria. Iraq was able to hurt the Western economy when it participated in the oil
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
boycott
Boycott
A boycott is an act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with a person, organization, or country as an expression of protest, usually for political reasons...
against Israel's supporters.
Under Bakr conflicts intensified between the government and the Kurds. In early 1974 heavy fighting erupted in northern Iraq between government forces and Kurdish
Kurdish people
The Kurdish people, or Kurds , are an Iranian people native to the Middle East, mostly inhabiting a region known as Kurdistan, which includes adjacent parts of Iran, Iraq, Syria, and Turkey...
nationalists, who rejected as inadequate a new Kurdish autonomy law based on a 1970 agreement. The Kurds, led by Mustafa al-Barzani, received arms and support from Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. Around this same time he founded the National Progressive Front
National Progressive Front (Iraq)
The National Progressive Front was an Iraqi Popular Front announced on July 16, 1973 and constituted in 1974, ostensibly formed within the framework of a "joint action programme" to establish a coalition between the Arab Socialist Ba'ath Party, the Iraqi Communist Party, the Kurdistan...
in an effort to broaden the support base for his government.
After Iraq agreed in early 1975 to make major concessions to Iran in settling their border disputes, Iran halted aid to the Kurds, and the revolt was dealt a severe blow.
In July 1978 a decree was passed which made all non-Ba'thist political activity illegal and membership of any other political party punishable by death
Death
Death is the permanent termination of the biological functions that sustain a living organism. Phenomena which commonly bring about death include old age, predation, malnutrition, disease, and accidents or trauma resulting in terminal injury....
for all those who were members or former members of the Armed Forces.
Resignation and death
Al-Bakr appointed Saddam HusseinSaddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
, his Tikriti cousin, as Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
upon attaining power in 1968. In 1976, Saddam (who had never served in the armed forces) took the title of general in the Ba'th party's Popular Army and rapidly became the strongman
Strongman (politics)
A strongman is a political leader who rules by force and runs an authoritarian regime. The term is often used interchangeably with "dictator," but differs from a "warlord".A strongman is not necessarily always a formal head of government, however...
of the government. As the weak, elderly al-Bakr became unable to execute his duties, Saddam took on an increasingly prominent role as the face of the government both internally and externally, eventually becoming de-facto leader of Iraq some years before he formally became president.
On July 16, 1979, the 65-year-old Ahmed Hassan al-Bakr stepped down, ostensibly on health grounds, and Saddam Hussein assumed the presidency in a move that was widely regarded as a formality. It is commonly believed, based on accounts of witnesses, that Saddam forced the president to step down under threat of being removed by force. Immediately thereafter, Saddam had several top members of the Ba'ath party arrested and later executed under claim of espionage
Espionage
Espionage or spying involves an individual obtaining information that is considered secret or confidential without the permission of the holder of the information. Espionage is inherently clandestine, lest the legitimate holder of the information change plans or take other countermeasures once it...
.
Al-Bakr died in 1982 of unreported causes.