Masih Alinejad

Masoumeh "Masih" Alinejad-Ghomikolayi, born on September 11, 1976, is an influential Iranian-American journalist, author, and political activist. Currently residing in New York City, Alinejad has made significant contributions to the discourse on human rights in Iran, particularly focusing on women's rights. Her work as a presenter and producer at Voice of America Persian News Network, along with her roles as a correspondent for Radio Farda and a contributing editor for IranWire, has established her as a prominent voice in the media.

Alinejad's commitment to advocating for human rights has not gone unnoticed. In 2023, she was honored by Time magazine as one of the Women of the Year. Her accolades include the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy women's rights award in two thousand fifteen, the Omid Journalism Award from the Mehdi Semsar Foundation, and a "Highly Commended" AIB Media Excellence Award.

In two thousand eighteen, she published her memoir, The Wind in My Hair, which reflects on her upbringing in Iran and the societal expectations placed on girls. Alinejad's narrative highlights the challenges faced by women in her homeland, where they are often taught to be submissive and unobtrusive.

Despite her impactful work, Alinejad has faced severe threats, including being the target of kidnapping and assassination plots orchestrated by the Iranian government. In two thousand nineteen, she took a stand against these threats by suing the Iranian government in a U.S. federal court for harassment against herself and her family.