17 Facts About Fuad Masum

Muhammad Fuad Masum Hurami is an Iraqi Kurdish politician who served as the seventh president of Iraq from 24 July 2014 to 2 October 2018.

Fuad Masum was elected as president following the 2014 parliamentary election.

Fuad Masum is the son of Mullah Masum Khider, a former head of the Association of Muslim Scholars in Kurdistan, who belongs to an established political dynasty with Muslim clerical links.

Fuad Masum's family descends from the village of Khabanen, which is part of Hawraman.

Fuad Masum studied at various religious schools in Iraqi Kurdistan until the age of 18.

In 1958, Fuad Masum traveled to Cairo to complete his higher education at Al-Azhar University.

Fuad Masum worked as a professor in Basrah University in 1968.

Fuad Masum earned his PhD in Islamic philosophy from Al-Azhar in 1975.

Fuad Masum joined the Iraqi Communist Party in 1962, until 1964, where he travelled to Syria to meet the Communist Party secretary there, Khalid Bakdash.

Fuad Masum was the representative of the Kurdish Revolution in Cairo until 1975.

Fuad Masum was one of the founders of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan in 1976.

In 2003, following the invasion of Iraq, Fuad Masum returned to Baghdad to be a member of the delegation representing Kurdistan, and was a member of the constitution drafting committee.

In 2010, Fuad Masum became the first Speaker of the Council of Representatives.

Fuad Masum won 211 votes while his closest competitor, Barham Salih, only received 17.

Fuad Masum accepted the position, noting the "huge security, political and economic tasks" he faces as president.

Fuad Masum's appointment was considered illegal by Nouri al-Maliki and in violation of the constitution.

Fuad Masum had a son, Showan, who died from a childhood illness.