1972 Qatari coup d'état

1972 Qatari coup d'état
A CIA WFB map of Qatar, not showing the Halul Island.
Date 22 February 1972 Location Doha, Qatar 25°17′12″N 51°32′0″E Result Coup attempt succeeds. Emir Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani ousted from power.
Commanders and leaders
Ahmad bin Ali Al Thani	Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
Casualties and losses
No casualties reported.

The 1972 Qatari coup d'état was a bloodless palace coup that took place in Qatar on 22 February 1972. 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.

While many Western news outlets referred to the event as a coup, the Qatari population merely considered it to be a succession of power.

Aftermath

The initial activity of the new Emir was the process of the reorganization of the government. 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. 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. Furthermore, he limited the financial privileges of members of the ruling Al Thani family.

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

See also

• 1995 Qatari coup d'état