The mulla (in Kurdish mela) is the only clerical office in Sunni Islam. He leads religious services at the village level and instructs the children of the village in the Koran. In earlier times, the mulla was usually the most educated man in the village. More recently, however, some younger people have a better education. Among mullas the imam is the leader of prayers, while the khatib repeats the khutba, or prayers for the Prophet, his immediate successors, and the current ruler. The khatib requires more education. Mulla Mustafa Barzani, arguably the most famous Kurd of the 20th century, it should be noted, used the name mulla without having any particular religious significance attached to it.
Historical Dictionary of the Kurds. Michael M. Gunter.