1972 Qatari coup d'état

The 1972 Qatari coup d'état was a bloodless palace coup that took place in Qatar on 22 February 1972.[1] The coup was carried out by then heir apparent and Prime Minister Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, who took control of the country while his cousin, Emir Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani, was on a visit to Iran.[1]

1972 Qatari coup d'état

A CIA WFB map of Qatar, not showing the Halul Island.
Date22 February 1972
Location
Doha, Qatar
25°17′12″N 51°32′0″E
Result

Coup attempt succeeds.

Commanders and leaders
Qatar Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani Qatar Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
Casualties and losses
No casualties reported.
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While many Western news outlets referred to the event as a coup, the Qatari population merely considered it to be a succession of power.[2]

Aftermath

The initial activity of the new Emir was the process of the reorganization of the government.[3] The process saw a dramatic shift in the hierarchy of authority. Khalifa bin Hamad immensely reduced the traditional powers afforded to the heir apparent while projecting all of the power onto himself.[4] He appointed Suhaim bin Hamad Al Thani as Minister of Foreign Affairs; he also appointed an adviser to himself regarding the day-to-day affairs.[3] Furthermore, he limited the financial privileges of members of the ruling Al Thani family.[2]

After his deposition, the former Emir lived in exile in London[5] and chose to remain in exile until his death in 1977.

See also

References
  1. "Qatar PM seizes power from cousin". Ottawa Citizen. Beirut. AP. February 23, 1972. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  2. Helen Chapin Metz, ed. (1993). "The Al Thani". Persian Gulf States: A Country Study. Washington: GPO for the Library of Congress.
  3. "Line of succession: The Al Thani rule in Qatar". Gulf News. June 24, 2013. Retrieved June 27, 2013.
  4. Al-Kubaisi, Mohammed Ali M. (1984). Industrial development in Qatar: a geographical assessment (PDF). Durham E-Theses, Durham University. p. 77.
  5. "Shaikh Ahmed Bin Ali Al Thani: Amiri Diwan". Diwan. Archived from the original on December 1, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
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