They killed her son and buried him without a name in Khavaran This is the grave of Kourosh Keyvani — nameless, isolated, in Khavaran. Even after his execution, the state did not leave him in peace. His body was buried…
Ali Younesi, imprisoned elite student:“We do not beg for freedom; we fight to win it.” Ali Younesi, an elite student at Sharif University of Technology and gold medalist at the 2018 International Olympiad on Astronomy and Astrophysics, has been imprisoned…
Hiwa Life at LSE: Urban Space, State Violence, and Kurdish Resistance Hiwa Life participated in the Kurdish Studies Conference at the London School of Economics, where Soran Mansournia, Co-Founder of Hiwa Life, presented a paper examining the relationship between urban…
Five female political prisoners in Vakilabad in a dangerous situation Five female political prisoners in Vakilabad Prison, Mashhad, are facing severe security charges and life-threatening conditions. Among them are Sima Anbaei Farimani and Mahboubeh Shabani, who face charges like “Moharebeh,”…
Hiwa at Berlin Freedom Week Engaging European Policymakers for Democratic Change During Berlin Freedom Week, Hiwa held a series of high-level engagements with European policymakers, government officials, and civil society leaders—strengthening its role as an emerging voice on human rights…
Hiwa Life panel discussion: The Evolving Role of Kurds in the Middle East Hiwa Life, in collaboration with the University of Groningen (Netherlands), convened a discussion examining the role of Kurds within the evolving dynamics of the Middle East. During…
Testimony at the European Parliament During a session at the European Parliament, Zhino Babamiri, a HIWA member and co-founder of the Daughters of Justice campaign, presented evidence and testimony on state violence in Iran, including death sentences, enforced disappearances, and…
How We Stopped Islamic Regime Officials and Their Anti-American Delegation from Entering the U.S.
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.
