Who We Are
We are a global coalition of activists, justice advocates, athletes, and humanitarians united to raise awareness about the oppression of Iran under authoritarian rule.
Sardar Pashaei
Founder
Sardar Pashaei is a Kurdish activist, former world wrestling champion, and a relentless advocate for justice. At just five years old, he experienced oppression firsthand, visiting his imprisoned father every Thursday.
Banned from competing internationally due to his political family background, he eventually fled Iran and became a U.S. citizen. He has dedicated his time and voice to supporting the Woman, Life, Freedom movement, working with U.S. Congress, the European Parliament, and international organizations to raise awareness about the Iranian people’s struggle.
His activism has come at a personal cost—his younger brother and sister have both been arrested and tortured in Iran. Today, he leads Justice & Freedom for Iran, bringing together survivors, activists, and athletes to work toward a democratic and secular Iran.
Zaniar Tondro
Head of Supporting Activists on the Ground
Zaniar Tondro is 18 years old and was one of the active protesters in Iran’s Woman Life Freedom movement in 2023. During the protests, he was shot in the eye by security agents with pellets and left on the street, presumed dead. Against all odds, he survived and fled Iran with his family. He now lives in Germany, where he continues his activism.
Zaniar is a young leader documenting crimes committed by the Iranian regime and has testified before the UN fact-finding committee against the Islamic Republic.
Key Responsibilities:
– Coordinate with young activists and protesters inside and outside Iran.
– Organize networks and provide strategic support for grassroots activists.
Roya Piraei
Head of Women for Equality
Roya Piraei’s mother was killed during the Woman Life Freedom movement. In a moment of global significance, she cut her hair at her mother’s grave, sharing a photo that captured worldwide attention. Forced to flee Iran, she later became one of the world’s top 100 influential women. She met with French President Emmanuel Macron and urged him not to shake hands with the Iranian regime’s officials—the people who killed her mother.
Key Responsibilities:
– Support women activists inside and outside Iran through global advocacy.
– Raise awareness and campaign for the release of imprisoned female protesters.
Fariba Balouch
Head of Humanitarian Aid
Fariba Baloch is a human rights activist from Baluchistan, a persecuted ethnic minority in Iran. She was honored with the 2024 International Woman of Courage Award and met with First Lady Jill Biden and White House officials. Formerly a teacher, she was forced to flee after the Iranian regime took her brother and 16-year-old son hostage to silence her. Instead, she became louder, advocating for hundreds of Baloch families who have lost loved ones or suffered oppression.
Key Responsibilities:
– Provide financial, medical, and legal aid to injured protesters and political prisoners’ families.
– Ensure safe relocation and emergency assistance for Iranian refugees.
Soran Mansournia
Head of Justice for Victims
Soran Mansournia holds a PhD in Spatial Sciences & Urban Geopolitics from the University of Otago/New Zealand, and the University of Groningen/Netherlands. Alongside his brother, Borhan, Soran actively participated in major anti-government protests in Iran, notably in November 2019—known as Bloody November. During Bloody November, Borhan was shot and killed, a loss that transformed Soran, inspiring him to dedicate his life to human rights activism.
Key Responsibilities: – Document human rights violations and create individual cases for victims. – Work with international lawyers to take cases to court and seek prosecution of war criminals.