Our Team

A dedicated team combining advocacy, research, and cultural work — rooted in Kurdish identity and global solidarity.

Portrait of sardar pashaei

Sardar Pashaei

Founder & Director 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.

Portrait of Member Three

Jino Victoria Doabi

Director of International Relations

Jino Victoria Doabi is a political scientist and strategic advisor specializing in international politics, geopolitics, and global movements for women’s rights and democracy. Her work explores the intersection of politics, diplomacy, and human rights, with a particular focus on the Middle East, Europe, and the evolving dynamics of international power structures.

Doabi has extensive experience in advisory work, lobbying, policy influence, and strategic communications and partnerships.

In addition, she serves as an international commentator and analyst, contributing to media outlets and public discourse. Her work provides evidence-based insights on global security developments, hybrid threats, and pro-democracy movements.

Portrait of soran mansournia

Soran Mansournia

Director 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.

Portrait of zhino babamiri

Zhino Babamiri

Director of Youth & Education

Zhino Beigzadehbabamiri is a Kurdish human rights activist, designer, and co-founder of Daughters of Justice Campaign. Her work emerged from deeply personal circumstances — her father, Rezgar Beigzadeh Babamiri, is one of five Kurdish political prisoners sentenced to death in Iran for aiding wounded protesters during the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising.

Driven by courage and an unshakable sense of justice, Zhino has mobilized international attention to the plight of Kurdish prisoners, advocating through global human rights networks, Daughters of Justice Campaign has evolved into a powerful collective voice demanding justice, transparency, and an end to executions in Iran

Zhino’s advocacy reflects a new generation of Kurdish women who transform pain into purpose, standing for life, freedom, and dignity.

Portrait of zhino babamiri

Donja Hodaie

Legal Advisor | Advisory Board Member

Dr. Donja Hodaie is an attorney-at-law, researcher, and public speaker specializing in human rights, minority and women’s rights, state repression, and political developments in Iran and Kurdistan.

She studied law in Berlin and completed her legal training in Germany, Iran, and Australia. In 2025, she completed her doctorate at Bielefeld University with a dissertation titled “The Legitimacy of German and Iranian State Security Offences.” Her research examines how state-security laws operate in democratic and authoritarian systems, with particular attention to their potential use in suppressing political opposition and restricting individual freedoms.

Until August 2025, Dr. Hodaie worked at a German federal ministry. She now works as an independent attorney, researcher, and public speaker. Her research and publications address human-rights enforcement, minority and women’s rights, gender apartheid in international criminal law, and the relationship between state security and fundamental freedoms.

Through her legal, academic, and public work, Dr. Hodaie focuses on advancing justice, accountability, and the protection of fundamental rights in Iran and Kurdistan.

Our Purpose

Making a Difference Through Collaboration

At Hiwa, we believe that together we can achieve great things. Our mission is to support and inspire people as we work hand in hand toward a better future. We focus on creating innovative solutions and fostering an environment of shared knowledge and compassion, driven by a sense of hope.

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.