Shiva Mahbobi
{{Short description|Iranian activist}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Shiva Mahbobi
| image = Shiva M.jpg
| alt = Photograph of female activist
| caption = Photo is taken in 2019
| birth_name =
| native_name = شیوا محبوبی
| native_name_lang = Persian
| birth_date = 1968
| birth_place = Iran
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Iranian-British
| other_names =
| occupation = Campaigner, women's rights & political activist, psychotherapist
| years_active =
| known_for = Campaigning for women's rights and release of political prisoners in Iran
| notable_works =
| spouse = Saeed Khalilirad
}}
Shiva Mahbobi (Persian: شیوا محبوبی ) (born 1968) is a former Iranian political prisoner, psychotherapist and a prominent advocate known for her extensive efforts in mobilizing international support for the release of political prisoners in Iran. She is recognized for her persistent commitment to advancing women’s rights and raising awareness about women's suppression and the compulsory Hijab in Iran.
Mahbobi is known for her role as the co-founder and spokeswoman of the Campaign to Free Political Prisoners in Iran ([https://cfppi.org/about-us/ CFPPI]). Over a decade ( 2005-2016), she served as the producer and presenter of the Persian television program on women's rights and political prisoners.{{Citation |title=مصاحبه شیوا محبوبی با بهروز جاوید تهرانی زندانی سیاسی سابق در تلویزیون کانال جدید | date=April 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS04XIsVBdI |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} This show broadcast fortnightly from [https://kanaljadid.com Kanal Jadid] to Iran and Europe, focused on shedding light on the conditions of Iranian political prisoners. She initiated and organized a campaign for the establishment of The [https://20juneiran.wordpress.com/about/ 20th of June] as an International Day in Support of Political Prisoners in Iran. CFPPI is a non-profit organisation which was initially established in 2006 by a group of Iranian ex-political prisoners.
Mahbobi's impactful presence extends across various English, Persian, and Kurdish language media outlets in the UK and worldwide. She is a regular commentator on major Persian language platforms{{Citation |title=شیوا محبوبی: در تمام طول این سال‌ها ما زنان ایران هرگز حجاب را نخواستیم | date=17 September 2022 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1nWw1I2L5eQ |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}}{{Citation |title=گزارش دو نهاد حقوق بشری از فساد سیستماتیک در ایران؛ گفت‌گو با شیوا محبوبی | date=28 December 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXQdjNQtUME |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} and has been invited as a speaker to notable events and conferences, including Cambridge Union,{{Citation |title=Shiva Mahbobi {{!}} Cambridge Union | date=22 February 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flSZfqUKLyM |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} Durham Union,{{Cite web |title=This House believes Islam is Compatible with Human Rights – Durham Union Society |url=https://dus.org.uk/event/islam-debate/ |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en-GB}} and the Global Dialogue on the Future of Iran in Toronto, Canada.{{Citation |title=The Global Dialogue on the Future of Iran - Session 2 | date=10 May 2013 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50pmo6l5Rso |access-date=2024-01-02 |language=en}} She spoke at the UN Human Rights Council.{{Cite web |date=2024-03-18 |title=32nd Meeting - 55th Regular Session of Human Rights Council {{!}} UN Web TV |url=http://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1i/k1ia17pdl4 |access-date=2024-05-03 |website=webtv.un.org |language=en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZIrWehQ7Go |title=سخنرانی شیوا محبوبی سخنگوی کمیته آزادی زندانیان سیاسی در نشست شورای حقوق بشر در ژنو |language=en |access-date=2024-05-03 |via=www.youtube.com}} Her profile was featured in British Vogue in 2023 as one of five women{{Cite web |date=2022-11-29 |title="This Is A Revolution": 5 Women On The Ongoing Fight For Freedom In Iran |url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/arts-and-lifestyle/article/iran-protests-activists |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=British Vogue |language=en-GB}} actively working towards effecting change in Iran. Shiva Mahbobi's experience in prison was featured in Missing, Presumed Dead, a 10-part true crime documentary series produced by Spirit Studios in collaboration with A+E Networks EMEA and Quintus Studios. Her story is presented in episode 107, titled "Under Lock and Key."{{Cite web |date=2025-01-14 |title=Shiva Mahbobi: Solitary Confinement - Missing Presumed Dead (Series 2, Episode 2) - Apple TV (UK) |url=https://tv.apple.com/gb/episode/shiva-mahbobi-solitary-confinement/umc.cmc.6y3l8acx84xbeoncttrdhsgl?showId=umc.cmc.44e1o42xr460b7ys4tw5tp3df |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Apple TV |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |title=Missing Presumed Dead |url=https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/shows/missing-presumed-dead |access-date=2025-05-27 |website=Crime+Investigation UK |language=en}}
Life and Early Activism
As a teenager, Mahbobi was a women's rights and students’ rights activist in Iran, which deemed her "waging war against God," according to the ruling Islamic Regime of Iran. Mahbobi initiated her activism against the suppression of the Islamic regime in Iran shortly after the 1979 revolution at the age of 11. Her activism led to her first arrest at the age of 12 during a demonstration demanding the reopening of their school; she was released after six days. Despite this, she persisted in her activities, resulting in subsequent arrests, torture, and imprisonment for more than three years at the age of 16.{{Cite web |title=Annie MacManus |url=https://www.anniemacmanus.com//changes-podcast/changes-shiva-mahbobi |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=AnnieMacmanus}}{{Cite web |last=Gilbody-Dickerson |first=Jessie Williams, Claire |date=2023-09-16 |title='We won't back down': Iranian women defy the hijab rule despite arrests, beatings and rape |url=https://inews.co.uk/news/world/iranian-women-defy-hijab-rule-arrests-beatings-rape-2620020 |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}} Following her release, she continued her political activities but eventually fled the country to avoid arrest and possible execution.
In her pursuit of safety, Mahbobi sought asylum via UNHCR in Turkey, where she resided for over two years before relocating to Canada in 1994 and later moving to the UK in late 2001.
During her time in Turkey, Mahbobi served on the executive committee of the International Federation of Iranian Refugees and was an activist for the International Campaign in Defence of Women's Rights in Iran. In Canada, she worked as the coordinator of the Action Committee in Defence of Women's Rights in Iran-Canada,{{Cite web |title=Network members |url=https://ccrweb.ca/sites/ccrweb.ca/files/static-files/gendnetpart.html |access-date=2024-01-02 |website=ccrweb.ca}} actively raising awareness about the situation of Iranian women in collaboration with organizations like the National Action Committee on the Status of Women- Canada and Amnesty International-Canada.
Upon her move to the UK in 2001, Mahbobi took the role of public relations officer for the International Committee Against Stoning, working on a campaign against the stoning of women worldwide.{{Cite news |date=2004-08-06 |title=Sharia Update: International Campaign Against Stoning |language=en-US |work=Humanists International |url=https://humanists.international/2004/08/sharia-update-international-campaign-against-stoning/ |access-date=2024-01-02}}
References
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