Keynote Address with Masih Alinejad

Masih Alinejad discussed the crackdown on protests in Iran and why democracies should not take free speech for granted.

Masih Alinejad is an Iranian journalist and women's rights activist renowned for her fearless stand against compulsory hijab and the Iranian regime's oppressive policies. Born in a small village in pre-revolutionary Iran, Masih grew up during her country's shift from a secular autocracy to a theocratic state. Her dedication to justice led her to journalism, where she exposed government corruption and human rights abuses. Forced into exile, Masih created the "My Stealthy Freedom" movement, empowering Iranian women to defy compulsory hijab laws and inspiring a global fight for freedom and equality.