The wave of violence in Iraq, the bombings in the streets and the armed operations associated with the war raging between the Iraqi forces and the Islamic State since June 2014 have been depicted by the media from various angles. Yet violence is the common denominator in the various news bulletins broadcast by the many media outlets.

Another kind of violence, however, lies behind the images circulating in the media. Iraqi politics has seen many violent events over the years, as violence is deeply rooted in the country's political history, for various ideological and partisan reasons. The last king of Iraq, King Faisal II, was killed along with his family on July 14, 1958, at the hands of the army that had led a coup against the kingdom (1921-1958). Some researchers have claimed that Iraq enjoyed economic prosperity and real democracy at the time.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Said (1930-1958) was killed on the same day as the king by rebels who supported the coup. His body was mutilated and his limbs severed after being dragged through the streets of Baghdad. Prince Abdul al-Ilah, who served as regent until Faisal came of age in 1953, was also killed in the attack on the palace during the 1958 coup.

Prime Minister Abd al-Karim Qasim (1958-1963) was executed by putschist army officers by fire on Feb. 9, 1963, in a television building in Baghdad, with a group of his officers.