Quick Info
| Profession | Journalist, Author, Political Activist, Women's Rights Activist |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Iranian-American |
| Date of Birth | 11/09/1976 |
| Age | 50 years |
| Birthplace | Qomi Kola, Babol, Iran |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
Latest News about Masih Alinejad
A U.S. court sentenced Jonathan Loadholt to 10 years in prison for his role in a plot to kill Masih Alinejad at her Brooklyn home. Authorities said the FBI disrupted the Iranian-backed assassination attempt before it could be carried out, following earlier related convictions in the case.
Masih Alinejad accepted the 2026 Courage Award on behalf of the heroes of Iran at the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. The recognition highlighted her continuing role as a leading voice for Iranian civic resistance and women's rights activism.
Masih Alinejad was announced as the recipient of the inaugural European Paulskirchenpreis. The award was scheduled to be presented in Frankfurt on 31 March 2026, recognizing her work as a journalist and women's rights activist.
Carlisle Rivera was sentenced to 15 years in prison for participating in a murder-for-hire plot targeting Masih Alinejad. Prosecutors said the scheme was directed by the Government of Iran and involved stalking and money-laundering conspiracies.
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Bio/Wiki
| Full Name | Masoumeh Alinejad-Ghomikolayi |
|---|---|
| Description | Iranian-American journalist and prominent women's rights activist known for vocal opposition to Iranian government's oppressive policies, particularly regarding women's freedoms and mandatory hijab laws. |
Personal Life
| Current Residence | Brooklyn, New York City |
|---|---|
| Status | Living in exile |
| Citizenship | United States (naturalized in 2019) |
Career
| Early Career | Parliamentary journalist in Tehran exposing corruption among lawmakers; columnist for Iranian newspapers |
|---|---|
| Notable Work | Fled Iran in 2009 following disputed presidential elections; created 57-part radio series on victims of 2009 crackdown; produced 2-hour TV documentary on families of victims |
| My Stealthy Freedom | Founded Facebook campaign in 2014 inviting Iranian women to post pictures without hijab; became largest civil disobedience campaign for women's rights in Islamic Republic history; garnered over one million likes |
| Campaigns | White Wednesdays, #MyCameraIsMyWeapon, #MyPenIsMyWeapon, #MenWithHijab (2012-2019) |
| Current Role | Presenter/producer at Voice of America Persian; correspondent for Radio Farda; contributor to Manoto TV; guest editor for IranWire |
| Publications | Memoir: The Wind in My Hair: My Fight for Freedom in Modern Iran (2018, published by Little, Brown) |
| Additional Roles | Co-founder and President of the World Liberty Congress; co-founder of United Against Gender Apartheid |
| Awards and Honors | Time’s Woman of the Year; American Jewish Committee’s Moral Courage Award; Oxi Courage Award; John S. McCain Freedom Award; Washington Institute’s 2022 Scholar-Statesman Award |
Style Quotient
| Notable Quote | The hijab is the tool the regime uses to control the women and, through them, Iranian society |
|---|
Some Lesser Known Facts
| 1. In 2008, wrote critical piece in Etemad newspaper comparing President Ahmadinejad's followers to hungry dolphins | |
| 2. Faced imprisonment for critical stance against Iranian government | |
| 3. Recognized by BBC Persian and Iran Wire as one of 50 most influential women in Iran | |
| 4. New York Times described her as The woman whose hair frightens Iran | |
| 5. During Mahsa Amini protests, formed coalition with Reza Pahlavi, Ali Karimi, and Hamed Esmaeilion to lead Women, Life, Freedom movement |
Social Media