How to Pronounce Masoud Barzani

Meaning and Context

Masoud Barzani, born on August 16, 1946, is a pivotal and enduring figure in modern Kurdish history, having served as the President of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq from 2005 to 2017. As the longstanding leader of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), one of the dominant Kurdish political parties, Barzani has been instrumental in shaping the trajectory of Kurdish nationalism and the pursuit of Kurdish autonomy within Iraq. His political career, deeply influenced by his father, the legendary Kurdish leader Mustafa Barzani, spans decades of conflict, negotiation, and state-building, including pivotal roles during the Kurdish uprising against Saddam Hussein, the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), and the contentious 2017 Kurdish independence referendum. A central actor in Iraqi Kurdistan politics, Barzani's legacy is inextricably linked to both the region's post-2003 federal achievements and its ongoing internal and external political challenges.

Common Mistakes and Alternative Spellings

The name "Masoud Barzani" has a few common transliterations and frequent misspellings due to its origin in Kurdish and Arabic scripts. The most common alternative spelling is "Massoud Barzani," with a double 's'. This variation is widely accepted and often seen in international media. Common typos include "Masood Barzani," "Masud Barzani," or "Barazani." The first name is sometimes mistakenly written as "Masouad" or "Masoudd," while the surname is occasionally misspelled as "Barzani" or "Bazarni." It is also important to note the correct diacritical marks in formal contexts: Mas‘ūd Barzānī. When searching, the most reliable results will come from the canonical "Masoud Barzani" or the alternative "Massoud Barzani."

Example Sentences

Following the fall of Saddam Hussein, Masoud Barzani worked closely with Iraqi political factions to draft a federal constitution that recognized the rights of the Kurdistan Region.

Analysts often cite Barzani's strategic pragmatism as a key factor in the KDP's enduring influence over the political and economic landscape of Erbil and Dohuk.

The controversial 2017 independence referendum, championed by Barzani, resulted in a severe backlash from the central Iraqi government and regional powers.

Despite stepping down from the presidency, Masoud Barzani remains the KDP's paramount leader and a crucial broker in negotiations between Erbil and Baghdad.

His memoirs provide a firsthand account of the Kurdish struggle for self-determination from the perspective of a central participant.

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