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Iranian women all over the country are putting their lives in danger for freedom and dignity. Does the world hear?

Masih Alinejad

Dariush Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, USA, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po, France, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Democratic Forces of Belarus, Republic of Belarus and Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, USA, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po, France, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Democratic Forces of Belarus, Republic of Belarus and Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Iranian-American journalist, author and women’s rights activist Masih Alinejad speaks as a leader using her voice to fight for equality against the Iranian regime at the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State University campus, April 3, 2023.

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Rima Maktabi, UK Bureau Chief, Al Arabiya, United Arab Emirates - Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA - Nazanin Boniadi, Human Rights Activist, United Kingdom - Tirana Hassan, Acting Executive Director, Human Rights Watch, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, USA, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po, France, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Democratic Forces of Belarus, Republic of Belarus and Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Saadia Zahidi, Managing Director, World Economic Forum, Gretchen Whitmer, Governor of the State of Michigan, USA, Arancha Gonzalez Laya, Dean, Paris School of International Affairs (PSIA), Sciences Po, France, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Leader of the Democratic Forces of Belarus, Republic of Belarus and Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, US Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the Women’s rights in Iran – what next? session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 17 January. Kurpark - Aspen 3. Copyright: World Economic Forum/Manuel Lopez

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Masih Alinejad, Journalist and Activist, U.S. Agency for Global Media, USA speaking in the: Women’s Leadership: Towards Parity in Power session at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2023 in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 19 January. Congress Centre - Congress Hall. Copyright: World Economic Forum / Benedikt von Loebell

Tiziana Ciavardini is a new phenomenon who has invested all her time to advertise for the facebook page called “my stealthy freedom” as well as the letter of Ali Hosseini Khamenei.

Last year (May 19, 2014), Tiziana Ciavardini, an Italian journalist, sent me an email asking me why Sepidedam is against this page “my stealthy freedom”. She introduced herself to me as a journalist of the Italian newspaper called Republica. She wrote that she was the person who first spread the news about the my stealthy freedom page. She first claimed that she is against this page and stated that Massih Alinejad (Massoumeh Ghomi) has no care for the Iranian women’s safety. She claimed that Alinejad had asked her that she should not criticize her about this project nor to talk about the risk of sending pictures to the page lest Iranian women would not dare to send their photos to this page. Ciavardini also asked me about Alinejad’s interview on VOA in 2011 when she talked positively about veil.

At first I trusted her, but I suddenly asked her why you as a journalist did accept to interview her while she limited you on what questions to ask or not to ask.

She answered me: “I am a journalist and anthropologist, however I am not a human rights activist. I then wrote to her some notes in Italian which she later deleted from her page when she realized I had criticized her. I asked her if she can warn Iranian people about the risk of sending photos to the “my stealthy freedom” page, she replied that I myself am currently living in Iran and this is a great danger for me.

It is interesting that a person who has made a facebook page globally known, a page which many claim has caused headache for the regime of Iran and is related to the opposition parties, can give a speech in Milad tower (the international conference hall in Tehran) and she can visit the Islamic regime president as well as his ministers and has interviewed with Tasnim , Sepah pasdaran ( Iranian terrorist militia) affiliated news paper.

She also said about the letter of Ali Khamanei, the leader of the Islamic republic of Iran that “the letter shows the powerful words of the leader. Islam is growing in Europe”. When the letter was first published in English, I told myself, that this letter is a breakthrough in human history. This letter is more than just printed words. I felt the power of his words. The supreme leader of Iran knows the new generation more than anybody else in this world.

Tasnim has started its interview with Ciavardini with this introduction:

Ciavardini is a cultural anthropologist, and the coordinator of human society of the Ancsis instituition in Italy. She has praised Khamenei’s letter to the American and European youth. Note that this journalist was first discovered by Esfandiar Rahim Mashayi, the vice president of Mahmousd Ahmadinejad. She has been frequenting to Iran since ten years ago and her husband is active in multi-million dollar projects in Iran.

This shows that Alinejad’s cooperation with the intelligence service and the Islamic regime lobbies in Europe and North America has not changed even after changing the government. She is risking Iranian women’s life just because of her own economic benefits.

“Nahade zaneh azad” has written about Ciavardini as follows:

The story of a European lady who knows that women have been stoned to death in Iran and on a daily basis, at least two people have been hanged during Rouhani’s presidency, is a story of a European lady who defends the Islamic fascism and is not afraid of any lies and easily praises Khamenie and Rouhani and the sepah pasdaran. This story is not a good omen for Iranian women and brings us more sorrow and anger. j.mp/1zNMQer

‫چاواردینی، خامنه‌ای ، علی نژاد‬

‫«تیتزیانا چاواردینی» پدیده‌ای که همت خود را صرف انعکاس جهانی‌ «آزادی‌های یواشکی» و «نامه علی‌ خامنه‌ای» کرد ‬https://youtu.be/29LFW2H0aQYسال‫ گذشته تیتزیانا چاواردینی خبرنگار ولایت مدار ایتالیایی در تاریخ ۱۹ می ۲۰۱۴ ( ۲۹ اردیبهشت ۱۳۹۳ )پیغامی در فیسبوک برای اینجانب ارسال نمود و علت مخالفت سایت سپیده دم با صفحه آزادی‌های یواشکی را جویا شد. خودش را خبرنگار روزنامه ایتالیایی رپابلیکا معرفی‌ نمود و نوشت او کسی‌ بوده که برای اولین اخبار مربوط به صفحه «آزادی‌های یواشکی» را منتشر کرده و البته مخالف این حرکت است. جهت جلب اعتماد من اعتراف کرد که مسیح علی نژاد به هیچ وجه اهمیتی برای امنیت زنان قائل نیست، از او قبل از مصاحبه خواسته بود انتقادی نسبت به پروژه او مطرح نکند، و در مورد خطراتی که برای زنان دارد صحبتی‌ نشود، در غیر این صورت زنان جرأت نخواهند کرد عکس و ویدئو برای او بفرستند. ایشان در مورد مصاحبه علی نژاد در سال ۲۰۱۰ با صدای آمریکا و تاکید او بر حجاب از من سوال کرد … ابتدا من اعتماد کردم، اما ناگهان از ایشان پرسیدم شما به عنوان یک روزنامه نگار اروپا یی وقتی‌ از شما خواسته شده انتقاد نکنید ، و در مورد خطرات برای زنان حرفی‌ نزنید، چرا پذیرفتید و چرا مصاحبه کردید و مصاحبه او را منتشر نمودید؟در پاسخ گفت من روزنامه‌نگار هستم، انسان شناس هستم، فعال حقوق بشر نیستم. به زبان ایتالیایی بعدا مطلبی نوشتم ، که بعد مسیح علینژاد هم در صفحه یواشکی به اشتراک گذاشت، ولی‌ سپس فهمید که انتقاد مطرح شده پاک کرد.از او پرسیدم آیا حالا حاضر است که این خطر بزرگ را به مردم هشدار دهد، در پاسخ گفت من هم خودم در ایران هستم و برای من خطرناک است!حال بسیار جالب است فردی که باعث جهانی‌ شدن «آزادی‌های یواشکی» شده ، که بسیاری ادعا میکنند صفحه‌ای وابسته به اپوزیسیون است و در حال «کندن پوست حکومت اسلامی» ، میتواند در برج میلاد سخنرانی‌ کند، با وزیر فرهنگ و ارشاد اسلامی ، معاون ریس جمهور ، … دیدار نماید و همچنین با خبرگزاری تسنیم وابسته به سپاه مصاحبه کند او در مورد نامه علی‌ خامنه‌ای گفته:آینده قدرت کلمات نامه رهبر ایران را نشان خواهد داد! اسلام در اروپا رو به گسترش است … زمانی که نامه برای اولین بار به‌زبان انگلیسی در وب‌سایت‌ها منتشر شد با خودم گفتم که این نامه تاریخی خواهد بود، این نامه چیزی بیش از کلماتی است که در آن نگاشته شده است. رهبر معظم ایران بهتر از هر کس دیگری اهمیت نسل جدید را می‌فهمد …تسنیم با این مقدمه مصاحبه خود را با این خانم آغاز کرده:تیتزیانا چاواردینی، مردم‌شناس فرهنگی، و رئیس‌ مجمع مردم‌شناسی آنسیس ایتالیا در گفتگو با خبرنگار تسنیم به ابعاد مختلف نامه حضرت امام خامنه‌ای، رهبر معظم انقلاب، به جوانان اروپا و آمریکای شمالی پرداخت!لازم به ذکر است این خبرنگار ولایت مدار یکی‌ از کشفیات اسفندیار رحیم مشایی بوده و از ده سال پیش به ایران رفت و آمد دارد و همسرش نیز در پروژه‌های کلان اقتصادی فعال است.این نشان میدهد همکاری مسیح علی‌ نژاد با وزارت اطلاعات و لابی‌های خارج از کشور، با عوض شدن دولت‌ها تغییری نکرده است، و از همین رو برای به دست آوردن منافع اقتصادی، حاضر است امنیت هزاران زن ایرانی‌ را به خطر بیندازد.نهاد زن آزاد در مورد «تیتزیانا چاواردینی» نوشته است:داستان زن اروپایی و ژورنالیستی که میداند در ایران زن سنگسار کرده اند و هر روز در دوره روحانی حداقل دو نفر را به چوبه دار سپرده اند، اما این حکومت را لایق مردم ایران میداند، داستان زن اروپایی که از فاشیسم اسلامی دفاع میکند و در این راه از هر نوع دروغپردازی و ندبه و زاری در پیشگاه خامنه ای و روحانی و سپاه پاسداران ابایی ندارد، این داستان بیشتر از اینکه جذاب و خواندنی باشد درد آور و باعث خشم ما زنان از ایران است.‬http://j.mp/1CdqhdR

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

CGI 2024 Annual Meeting

Spotlight Session: Women on the Frontlines

Humanitarian crises and violent conflicts have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, who are increasingly the architects of solutions for their affected communities. Despite their knowledge and lived experience, women continue to be vastly underrepresented in positions with decision-making power. Empowering women as decision-makers, from the community to the global level, can drive solutions and accelerate peace. This session will explore what’s working to elevate and support women who are on the frontlines fighting a range of social, political, and humanitarian threats. Participants Hanin Ahmed Founder, Old Omdurman Emergency Response Room Masih Alinejad President, World Liberty Congress Suyén Barahona Executive Director, Women's Political Leadership Fund María Corina Machado Leader of the Venezuela Democratic Movement Nice Leng'ete Founder and Vice Chair, Nice Place Foundation H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu President, Republic of Kosovo Sigrid Van Aken CEO, Postcode Lottery Group Clarissa Ward Chief International Correspondent, CNN

Photo Credit: Juliana Thomas for the Clinton Foundation

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2024_0924_CGIAM24_Juliana_Thomas_11_30_19_PM035131

Benjamin Sniddlegass (Andrew Griscti) and his lady friend, enigmatic mod Scarlett McKenna (Catherine Davies).

Dorian Newstead, Andrew Griscti and Catherine Davies at the premiere of the film. January 31, 2011 at Dendy Cinema, Newtown in Sydney.

DW Global Media Forum 2021 | Media freedom in times of disruption | f. l.: Irene Khan (UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression), Masih Alinejad (Iranian Journalist & Activist in exile), DW host Liz Shoo and Erol Önderoğlu (Representative in Turkey at Reporters without Borders (RSF)), copyright @DW/P.Boell

The gala not only reflected on 35 years of democracy promotion at NDI, it also looked forward through the eyes of three rising political leaders who are making outstanding contributions to strengthening democracy in their country:

Samson Itodo, Convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign (Nigeria). The movement in Nigeria that led to the reduction of constitutional age limits for running for public office in the country.

Vladimir Kara Murza, Democracy Activist and Opposition Leader (Russia). He has promoted civil society and democracy in Russia. He was poisoned twice for his efforts and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Act that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, and several EU countries.

Masih Alinejad, Women’s Rights Activist, Author and Journalist (Iran). She is the founder of the ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign in Iran against compulsory wearing of the hijab.

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman

Ali "Aliwood" Nejad. The remaining third of the PokerRoad Radio show. Commentator for Poker After Dark and National Heads-Up Poker Championship. He signed on the six of diamonds. It was cool to get a short chat with him while Joe+Gavin are still playing.

America Abroad Media (AAM) presents their annual gala awards dinner at the Andrew Mellon Auditorium in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, November 5, 2019. Honorees included Egyptian actress Yousra, Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad, and film director Peter Berg.

Ben (Andrew Griscti) and Scarlett (Catherine Davies) confront the sinister Lord Emmerich in his lair.

The gala not only reflected on 35 years of democracy promotion at NDI, it also looked forward through the eyes of three rising political leaders who are making outstanding contributions to strengthening democracy in their country:

Samson Itodo, Convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign (Nigeria). The movement in Nigeria that led to the reduction of constitutional age limits for running for public office in the country.

Vladimir Kara Murza, Democracy Activist and Opposition Leader (Russia). He has promoted civil society and democracy in Russia. He was poisoned twice for his efforts and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Act that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, and several EU countries.

Masih Alinejad, Women’s Rights Activist, Author and Journalist (Iran). She is the founder of the ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign in Iran against compulsory wearing of the hijab

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman

The gala not only reflected on 35 years of democracy promotion at NDI, it also looked forward through the eyes of three rising political leaders who are making outstanding contributions to strengthening democracy in their country:

Samson Itodo, Convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign (Nigeria). The movement in Nigeria that led to the reduction of constitutional age limits for running for public office in the country.

Vladimir Kara Murza, Democracy Activist and Opposition Leader (Russia). He has promoted civil society and democracy in Russia. He was poisoned twice for his efforts and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Act that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, and several EU countries.

Masih Alinejad, Women’s Rights Activist, Author and Journalist (Iran). She is the founder of the ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign in Iran against compulsory wearing of the hijab

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman

Subject of BE MY VOICE - journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, with DOC NYC executive director Raphaela Neihausen.

CGI 2024 Annual Meeting

Spotlight Session: Women on the Frontlines

Humanitarian crises and violent conflicts have a disproportionate impact on women and girls, who are increasingly the architects of solutions for their affected communities. Despite their knowledge and lived experience, women continue to be vastly underrepresented in positions with decision-making power. Empowering women as decision-makers, from the community to the global level, can drive solutions and accelerate peace. This session will explore what’s working to elevate and support women who are on the frontlines fighting a range of social, political, and humanitarian threats. Participants Hanin Ahmed Founder, Old Omdurman Emergency Response Room Masih Alinejad President, World Liberty Congress Suyén Barahona Executive Director, Women's Political Leadership Fund María Corina Machado Leader of the Venezuela Democratic Movement Nice Leng'ete Founder and Vice Chair, Nice Place Foundation H.E. Dr. Vjosa Osmani Sadriu President, Republic of Kosovo Sigrid Van Aken CEO, Postcode Lottery Group Clarissa Ward Chief International Correspondent, CNN

Photo Credit: Juliana Thomas for the Clinton Foundation

+++

2024_0924_CGIAM24_Juliana_Thomas_11_41_47_PM035166

The gala not only reflected on 35 years of democracy promotion at NDI, it also looked forward through the eyes of three rising political leaders who are making outstanding contributions to strengthening democracy in their country:

Samson Itodo, Convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign (Nigeria). The movement in Nigeria that led to the reduction of constitutional age limits for running for public office in the country.

Vladimir Kara Murza, Democracy Activist and Opposition Leader (Russia). He has promoted civil society and democracy in Russia. He was poisoned twice for his efforts and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Act that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, and several EU countries.

Masih Alinejad, Women’s Rights Activist, Author and Journalist (Iran). She is the founder of the ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign in Iran against compulsory wearing of the hijab

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Image ©Licensed to Parsons Media. 10/05/2023. London, United Kingdom. Sir Harry Evans Global Summit 2023. RIBA. The Iran's War on Journalists panel attended by Masih Alinejad – Journalist and Campaigner, Paul Caruana Galizia – Reporter, Tortoise Media. Moderator: Yalda Hakim – News Anchor and International Correspondent, BBC News during the Truth Tellers Sir Harry Evans Global Summit in Investigative Journalism 2023 held at the Royal Institute of Architects in London. Picture by Andrew Parsons for Truth Tellers / Parsons Media

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Foto di Elisa Caldana

Signature of Gavin Smith, Ali Nejad, Joe Sebok, and Amanda Leatherman.

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

Googoosh Malaysia 2009. More photos: www.flickr.com/photos/golden-photos. email :f.alinejad@yahoo.com

The gala not only reflected on 35 years of democracy promotion at NDI, it also looked forward through the eyes of three rising political leaders who are making outstanding contributions to strengthening democracy in their country:

Samson Itodo, Convener of the #NotTooYoungToRun Campaign (Nigeria). The movement in Nigeria that led to the reduction of constitutional age limits for running for public office in the country.

Vladimir Kara Murza, Democracy Activist and Opposition Leader (Russia). He has promoted civil society and democracy in Russia. He was poisoned twice for his efforts and played a key role in the passage of Magnitsky Act that imposed targeted sanctions on Russian human rights violators in the U.S., Canada, and several EU countries.

Masih Alinejad, Women’s Rights Activist, Author and Journalist (Iran). She is the founder of the ‘My Stealthy Freedom’ campaign in Iran against compulsory wearing of the hijab

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman