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Mesud BarzaniKurdish and Iraqi politician, President of Iraqi Kurdistan
Date of Birth: 16.08.1946
Country:  Iraq |
Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Education and Upbringing
- Political Activism and Military Service
- - Served as the head of Radio Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan.
- - Accompanied his father to the United States.
- - Elected Chairman of the KDP after the death of his father in 1979.
Early Life and Family
- Born in Mahabad, Iran, on the day the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) was founded.
- Father, Mustafa Barzani, was a prominent Kurdish leader and commander of the Mahabad Republic.
Education and Upbringing
- Received elementary education in Arabic.- Lived with his maternal grandfather, the chief of the Zibari tribe, after the fall of the Mahabad Republic.
Political Activism and Military Service
- Joined the peshmerga at age 16 during the September Uprising (1961-1975).
- Served as the head of Radio Voice of Iraqi Kurdistan.
- Led the Parastin Security Service from 1968.Post-Rebellion Reorganization
- Actively reorganized the KDP after the defeat of the uprising in 1975.
- Accompanied his father to the United States.
Assassination Attempt and Leadership- Survived an assassination attempt by Iraqi intelligence in Vienna in 1978.
- Elected Chairman of the KDP after the death of his father in 1979.
- Has held the position of KDP Chairman ever since.Political Career
- Served on the Iraqi Governing Council (2003-2004).
- Proclaimed President of Iraqi Kurdistan on June 12, 2005.
Legacy and Characteristics
- Known as "Kak Masoud" ("Mr. Masoud") among Kurds.
- Described as a cautious and realistic leader, loyal to his word.
- Fluent in Kurdish, Arabic, Persian, and English.
- Enjoys reading and football.
- Married with eight children.
