Iraq, 1958 — dissident coup conspiracy
Event Summary
The dataset records an event coded as a dissident conspiracy with forced resignation in Iraq on 8 December 1958, corresponding to the Rashid Ali al-Gaylani plot against Abdul-Karim Qasim. Al-Gaylani, the veteran Arab nationalist and three-time former prime minister famous for leading the pro-Axis 1941 Golden Square coup, returned from exile after the July 1958 revolution. Disappointed that Qasim rejected union with the United Arab Republic and offered him no ministry, al-Gaylani aligned with pro-UAR elements and disaffected officers and plotted a coup.
The uprising was planned for 9 December 1958, but Qasim was prepared and had the conspirators arrested on that same date; al-Gaylani was imprisoned and sentenced to death, later pardoned in 1961. The foiled plot was one of the recurring Nasserist challenges to Qasim's Iraqi-nationalist government in late 1958.
Researched Details
Researched
Independent research, added record by record. Hover any label for what it means.
Sources
Editorial Note
Cross-Reference
Only one dataset carries it. One of the three reference datasets we check against carries this event; the others do not list it. That is not a contradiction — the datasets cover different periods and use different thresholds — but it means the record has had less outside corroboration.
Identifiers for finding this same event in the other datasets:
- Cline Center id
64512081958
How the match is made is described in crossref-report.md.
Outcome and Target
Coup Atlas research identifies the target as: Qasim foiled the plot and removed al-Gaylani, who was sentenced to death and later pardoned.
Baseline coding: Plot discovered and disrupted before execution. Recorded leader fate: remained in office; not physically harmed. The baseline file does not name individual targets; researched names are kept in a separate layer.
Baseline Dataset Citation
Baseline Source-Document Entries
CSP
New York Times
This is the citation trail carried by the baseline dataset, grouped by outlet and rejoined from the line-wrapped original. Coup Atlas has not independently re-checked every document; read the original before citing a specific claim. URLs the import damaged beyond safe repair are shown as plain text and listed in citations-report.md. How this list is built →