On this episode I sat down with Zolal Habibi, a fierce advocate for human rights, democracy, and women’s freedom in Iran. Zolal’s story begins with heartbreaking loss: her father, a respected writer and political dissident, was killed by the regime when she was just a teenager. That loss became the foundation of a life spent fighting for justice — and now, with more than 20 years of activism and a role on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), Zolal is a voice the world needs to hear.

We talked about what’s really happening inside Iran — the ongoing resistance against a brutal theocracy, the unimaginable cost of dissent, and the courageous, youth-led, women-driven movement demanding change. Zolal doesn’t speak in hypotheticals. She speaks from experience — and from deep conviction.

She also breaks down the narrative traps and misinformation that cloud the truth: from myths about Iran’s history to the global misunderstanding of the resistance, including the MEK (People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran). This conversation clears the fog and gets to the heart of the matter.

If you’ve ever asked yourself how to support real change in Iran — or what it means to stand for human rights beyond borders — this episode is for you. It’s a call to action, a lesson in courage, and a powerful reminder that silence helps the oppressor. And we have the power to choose differently.

Chapters:00:00 – Introduction01:21 – Empowering Voices: Zolal Habibi03:09 – Iran’s Brain Drain Crisis07:21 – Iran-Iraq War Ceasefire’s Grim Aftermath09:46 – Justice Movement for 1988 Massacre14:52 – Mariam Rajavi’s Interim Presidency16:04 – Advocating Change: Iran Freedom Vision19:09 – Resilient Iranian Resistance Movement Persists23:05 – Support Iranian Resistance, End Appeasement27:30 – Iran’s Nuclear Revelations by NCRA31:52 – Iranian Women’s Resilience and Leadership33:25 – Hope Amidst Uncertainty in Iran36:40 – Iranian Generational Struggle for Change39:42 – “Torture’s Long-Lasting Scars”44:04 – “Caring for Iran, Caring for All”47:11 – “Inspired by Courageous Voices”49:06 – Outro

Quotes:“Every generation that resists makes the future brighter for the next. Even in the face of extreme adversity, we refuse to give in—resistance continues and so does the dream of freedom.”- Zolal Habibi

“Speaking up might be scary, but the alternative is much more grim. It’s in finding our own courage to resist, even in small ways, that we make a difference.”- Molly Ruland

Key Takeaways:Iran’s Unbreakable SpiritThe Price of ResistanceA Vibrant, Young, and Educated PopulationWomen at the FrontlinesThe Third Option: Supporting Iranian Self-DeterminationLessons for the WorldHow You Can HelpInspiration in Action

Connect with Zolal Habibi:

Website:

http://ncr-iran.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zolalhabibi/Instagram:http://instagram.com/maryamrajavinewsX (twitter): http://x.com/ashrafi4ever

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