In a recent podcast interview, Farzaneh Hosseini, a London-based lawyer and human rights activist, shared her personal and professional insights into the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) and its impact on her life and career. Hosseini, who was born in London to Iranian parents, has been actively supporting the NCRI since her childhood, driven by a deep-rooted commitment to justice and human rights.
Hosseini began her advocacy journey at a young age, influenced by her family’s experiences and the tragic loss of her uncles, Abbas and Gholam-Hossein Hosseini, who were executed in Iran in the early 1980s. Her parents fled Iran in 1984 and settled in the UK, where Hosseini was born and raised. “From a young age, I knew the PMOI [People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran] very well. It was embedded in my growing up,” she recounted, emphasizing the lifelong influence of her family’s dedication to the cause.
Her career choice as a lawyer was a natural extension of her passion for justice, a value instilled in her from an early age. “It’s important for me to echo the voices of the people in Iran who don’t have the freedoms we enjoy in the West,” Hosseini stated. She views her work and activism as a responsibility, leveraging her position in a free society to advocate for those oppressed by the Iranian regime.
Hosseini highlighted the significant role of women in the NCRI, particularly admiring the leadership of Maryam Rajavi, the NCRI’s president-elect. “The fact that we have a woman leader who is a Muslim woman standing up to Islamic fundamentalism is incredibly inspiring,” Hosseini noted. Rajavi’s resilience and dedication, despite personal losses, serve as a powerful example for Hosseini and many others.
Discussing Rajavi’s Ten-Point Plan for Iran’s future, Hosseini praised its comprehensive vision based on human rights, dignity, and freedoms. “It’s important to see these values in black and white, knowing what a future Iran should look like,” she remarked. Hosseini believes the NCRI is a viable alternative to the current regime, offering a clear roadmap for a democratic and just Iran.
Hosseini also addressed the recent propaganda against the NCRI, particularly the misrepresentation of the evacuation of children from Camp Ashraf during the Gulf War. She defended the NCRI’s actions, describing them as a humanitarian effort to save lives. “To portray this as anything other than taking children to safety is a gross misrepresentation,” she asserted, drawing parallels to historical evacuations like those organized by Sir Nicholas Winton during World War II.
Discussing the allegations of “child soldiers” used by foreign and Iranian state media to defame the PMOI, Farzaneh Hosseini spoke candidly about her personal experiences. She recounted the story of her two sisters, who were among the 900 children evacuated from Camp Ashraf during the Gulf War. Hosseini emphasized that these children were taken to safety out of necessity, as their lives were in grave danger.
“My own experience with my sisters discredits the narrative that the Iranian regime and its supporters are propagating. One of my sisters chose to join the PMOI, while the other did not and lives a happy private life in Europe. Both decisions were respected by our family and friends,” she explained. Hosseini expressed immense pride in her PMOI-member sister, admiring her selfless commitment to the cause. “She continues to fight tirelessly, and her dedication is a source of inspiration to me and many others.”
Reflecting on her personal connections to the PMOI, Hosseini shared the story of her aunt, Maryam Hosseini, who dedicated her life to the organization and was killed in Camp Ashraf in 2013. Her aunt’s selflessness and sacrifice exemplify the values of the NCRI, serving as a source of inspiration and strength for Hosseini.