Hiwa
From Hope We Rise
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HIWA
Voice of Kurds
We turn pain into purpose — building a united Kurdish movement to shape a democratic future.
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Our Mission

What we do and how we do it—goals, actions, and accountability.

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Our Vision

The future we’re building together and the values guiding us.

Our Works

Meeting at the European Parliament with Hannah Neumann, alongside Hiwa team members
Hiwa in Berlin
Panel discussion at the University of Groningen on the role of Kurds in the Middle East, featuring speakers from Hiwa Life and academia
Hiwa Life Panel Discussion: The Evolving Role of Kurds in the Middle East
Testimony at the European Parliament
When Hospitals Became Traps
Person wearing an eye patch, symbolising resilience after injury and trauma.
Save The Girl with No Name
Iranian protesters burn an American flag during a demonstration following the US State Department’s visa denial for Iran’s wrestling federation head, Alireza Dabir.
Victory Against Sport-Washing

Meet Our Dedicated Team

sardar-pashaei

Sardar Pashaei

Founder & Head of Athletes

Jino Zhino Beigzadeh Babamiri

Zhino Babamiri

Head of Youth and Education

Soran Mansournia

Head of Justice for Victims

Jino Victoria Doabi

Head of International Relations

Ongoing Campaigns

No To Execution

No to Execution

People facing the death penalty for political, civil, or humanitarian acts. This section documents cases on death row, supports families resisting executions, and mobilizes international pressure to stop state killings.

Enforced disappearance

Enforced disappearance

We focus on cases where authorities refuse to return bodies, conceal burial sites, or withhold information from grieving families. By documenting these patterns, we challenge the use of death as continued punishment and support families seeking truth, dignity, and the right to mourn.

Where Are Their Bodies?

Where Are Their Bodies?

We document cases of individuals taken by authorities whose whereabouts remain unknown, often accompanied by denial, intimidation, and legal obstruction. This campaign supports affected families and works to expose the systemic use of disappearance as a tool of control and silence.

Media & Press

Hiwa’s work spans advocacy, documentation, media engagement, and grassroots organizing…

State Department demands Iran halt execution of 19-year-old wrestling star

Fox News
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State Violence on the Map- How Urban Geography Is Weaponized in Kurdistan

The Amargi
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Kurdish Eco-Activists Die Fighting Fires Under Suspicious Circumstances

Middle East Uncovered
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Targeted for Who They Are

Kurdish people in Iran face layered discrimination. Their ethnic identity is often used to justify state repression, imprisonment, and executions.

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Kurdish share of Iran’s population

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of all executions (2024) were Kurds

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of political arrests (2024) were Kurds

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Kurds killed in the 2022–23 uprising (confirmed)

Work Areas

Seven pillars guide our mission to protect Kurdish life, culture, and dignity — combining advocacy, research, and direct support.

Justice for Victims

We document crimes, torture, executions, and systematic violations in Rojhelat. By preserving evidence, elevating cases, and honoring the memory of victims and the disappeared, we push for justice for political prisoners, injured protestors, and bereaved families.

Art & Cultural Identity

We safeguard Kurdish cultural identity and use art as non-violent resistance. Through exhibitions, film, and cultural diplomacy, we collaborate with artists to expose injustice, amplify Kurdish voices globally, and keep heritage alive.

Women of Rojhilat

We document gender-based violence and link it to international advocacy. Our work spans policy proposals, leadership development, and networks that elevate Kurdish women as decision-makers, spokespersons, and movement leaders.

International Relations

We engage UN, EU, and global bodies; craft narratives rooted in human rights law; and shape policy proposals for a democratic future. Through diplomatic outreach and research, we ensure Kurdish rights remain on the international agenda.

Youth & Education

We work with young Kurds to reclaim their history and sense of identity through education and dialogue. By promoting original stories, critical thinking, and cultural awareness, we undo decades of distortion and empower a generation that knows its roots and role in a democratic future.

Athletes

Hiwa’s Athletes for Freedom defends persecuted athletes, campaigns to ban regime flags, anthems, and officials from international sports, and supports imprisoned and exiled athletes—turning the power of sport into a force for freedom, dignity, and justice.

Humanitarian Aid & Relief

We support families of victims and communities in Kurdistan with emergency relief and essential services. Partnering with aid groups, we channel resources to displaced and at-risk Kurds and assist refugees through documentation and advocacy.

Suggestion box

It’s important for us to hear your insights on how we can improve our work. Your voice is what we try to amplify and your feedback could help us forward. Your suggestions are anonymous.

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Sardar Pashaei

Founder & Head of Athletes

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.