The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan is an Iraqi-Kurdish political party in Iraqi Kurdistan. The PUK was founded on May 22, 1975, by coordination between Jalal Talabani, Nawshirwan Mustafa, Ali Askari, Fuad Masum, Adil Murad, and Abdul Razaq Faily. Talabani, a former student leader, lawyer, journalist and resistance leader, has been the Secretary General of the PUK since its founding in 1975. The Patriotic Union of Kurdistan describes its goals as self-determination, human rights, and democracy and peace for the Kurdish people of Kurdistan and Iraq. Fuad Masum is the current president of Iraq. The current Deputy Secretary General is Kosrat Rasul Ali.