Barzani Masud

Masud Barzani: political leader and president of Kurdistan

Date of Birth: 16.08.1946

Masud Barzani - Kurdish and Iraqi politician, former president of the Iraqi Kurdistan and leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP).

Place of Birth. Education. Masud Barzani was born on August 16, 1946, in Mahabad, where his father, Mustafa Barzani, was the commander of the army of the Mahabad Republic. After the fall of the Mahabad Republic, Mustafa Barzani crossed into the USSR with 500 soldiers, while his family returned to Iraq with the entire Barzani tribe in the spring of 1947, where they were exiled to the south of the country. Masud Barzani was raised in the house of his maternal grandfather, the leader of the Zibari tribe, and received primary education in the Arabic language. After the monarchy was overthrown in 1958 and Mustafa Barzani returned to Iraq, he lived with his father in Baghdad.

Shortly after the beginning of the September uprising in the spring of 1962, 16-year-old Masud joined the Peshmerga. He participated in combat actions along with his father, later became the head of the 'Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan' radio station, and from 1968 headed the 'Parastin' security service. After the defeat of the uprising in 1975, Masud was actively involved in the reorganization of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and accompanied his father to the US.

In 1978, Masud narrowly escaped an assassination attempt in Vienna organized by Iraqi intelligence. After the death of Mustafa Barzani in March 1979, Masud was elected head of the KDP. He has held this position to this day.

In 2003-2004, Masud Barzani was a member of the Governing Council in Iraq and was appointed president of Iraqi Kurdistan on June 12, 2005.

Independence Referendum. On June 7, 2017, Barzani announced that Iraqi Kurdistan would hold an independence referendum on September 25, 2017. Baghdad and Washington were against the referendum. Iran and Turkey also protested this initiative since Kurdish minorities live in their territories, and authorities fear separatist tendencies.

On September 26, 2017, Barzani declared that the majority of voters had supported the independence of Iraqi Kurdistan.

On October 29, 2017, Barzani announced that he would step down as president of Iraqi Kurdistan effective November 1, 2017.

Personal Traits. Masud Barzani is reserved, cautious in his assessments, characterized by politeness even toward political opponents, and avoids sharp statements. He is realistic, not prone to extremism, and his commitment to his word has earned him authority at home and abroad. Among the Kurds, he is known by the respectful nickname 'Kak Masud' - 'Pan Masud.'

Hobbies - Reading and football.

He speaks Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, and English.

Books. Masud Barzani is the author of the book 'Mustafa Barzani and the Kurdish Liberation Movement,' which has been published in Kurdish, Arabic, and Russian editions.

Family. Masud Barzani is married. He has five sons and three daughters.

16.08.2022