Episode 55 -Iran Freedom & Human Rights: Zolal Habibi on Activism, Women’s Rights, and Global Change (Part One)
By Jessica Garrison
We are so fortunate to have our next guest with us, as her work continues to be relevant and vitalizing, so much so that we couldn’t fit it into one episode. Zolal Habibi is an Iranian-American who is passionate, outspoken, justice-oriented, compassionate, and hopeful.
Zolal has been an activist since she was a teenager because of her parents’ strong-willed nature to fight and help others. She is currently on the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI). Both of her parents were great role models for her, walking through their actions to match their words. They helped people in their community as well as traveling across the world, no matter the sacrifice. The decisions they made were not easy, just as decisions Zolal makes, but it’s about the greater cause that they’re fighting for.
There are so many things to admire about Zolal, and one of them is that she says it would be easy to say, “I wish I was born in a time without war,” but she knows she can be part of the generation that makes an impact. To have all of the privileges we have now, someone had to be part of the generation to fight to make a change. It’s inspiring to hear Zolal speak because she reminds us that we do have the power to create change. We do have the power to create a world we want to live in. It’s easy to feel helpless and feel like you’re just one person in this big world, but that’s also why community is so important. Rather than asking, “What am I going to do?” we can ask, “What are we going to do?”
Zolal says that her and the NCRI’s work is to echo the voice of the people. They work for the freedom of the people of Iran and speak on behalf of what its citizens are looking to be resolved. This dives deeper into the self-worth conversation because if you don’t see yourself as valuable, then why try? Why fight for yourself to have what you deserve, if you don’t think you deserve anything? It truly boils down to having the understanding and respect to want to fight for it, whether it be for yourself, another person, or your rights to freedom. Zolal says that she sees the potential in people because not everyone has had the same upbringing or experiences as herself, but that doesn’t mean someone doesn’t have potential within themselves to change. Sometimes it just has to be brought out of them.
This episode comes at a frustrating and confusing time in the world between Iran, Israel, and the United States. What The Embracing Layers Network fights for is the freedom of all people and the opportunity for them to create their own lives, make their own decisions, and be able to live authentically in a safe way. One last thing I want to leave with this blog is Zolal’s words, “We can and we must.” Remember that: we can and we must.
The blog for Part Two will release Wednesday, March 25th and the episode for Part Two will release Thursday, March 26th.
Ways to Engage: Ways to Engage: Check out resources below provided by Zolal Habibi and become more educated on what is happening in Iran from its own citizens. Join the resistance and help the future of Iran and the future of women.
Resources:
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