Hamid Yazdan Panah is an Iranian-American human rights activist and attorney focused on immigration and asylum in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Latest posts by Hamid Yazdan Panah
Reflections from the Iranian diaspora: Rage against the ‘Iran Lobby’
Iran's protest movement has fueled criticism of the "Iran Lobby," a term used to describe those who support the Islamic Republic and its policies.
Khodanoor Lajaei: Icon for a revolution
Khondoor Lajaei rose to fame because of the way he contrasted the happiness and freedom experienced by ordinary Iranians with the grief that many Iranians associate with the government.
Iranian protest crackdown targets ethnic minorities
Like the Baloch, Iran's Kurdish population is predominately Sunni Muslim, and as a result, they experience systematic racial and religious discrimination.
Iran's most recent protests are unprecedented — here is why
The protests we are seeing right now are unprecedented; they could be a sign of things to come for Iran and its people.
Iran’s latest surge in executions heavily targets Baloch minority
'Data gathered by Iran Human Rights shows that Baluch prisoners accounted for 21 percent of all executions in 2021, while only representing 2–6 percent of Iran's population'
Baloch protests in Iran underscore repression against the ethnic minority
Sandwiched between borders of Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan, the Baloch population is a disenfranchised minority relegated to the fringes of society, provided little economic opportunity, and systematically targeted by state violence.
To see the full brutality of ICE's impact on immigrants, look inside U.S. borders too
"The terror ICE raids sow in communities affects us all. In immigrant communities this often results in a reluctance to call police, cooperate with authorities or show up in court..."
While Iran's Former Head of Judiciary Receives Medical Treatment in Germany, Activists Urge his Prosecution for Crimes Against Humanity
Solidarity and support from the Iranian Diaspora and international community send a message that those who appear invincible today can end up a defendant in a courtroom tomorrow.
The People of Iran Are Raising Their Voices: Scenes from the Protests
Defiance, civil disobedience, chanting and non-violence: scenes from the past few days in Iran, where citizens have taken to the streets to protest against the government.
An Immigrant, Activist and Attorney's Hard Truths on DACA
DACA's beneficiaries must feel a deep sense of betrayal. But it is equally important that we demand more than the continuation of policies that provided only fragile and temporary benefits.
‘With Empty Hands But Deep Beliefs,’ Jamal Hosseini Lost His Life Fighting for Human Rights in Iran
The third anniversary of the mysterious death of Jamal Hosseini, a bridge between underground activists in Iran and the global community of human rights activists.
Remembering Native American Civil Rights Pioneer, Lehman Brightman
Brightman was a key figure in many important acts of Native American resistance, including the takeover of Alcatraz Island and the occupation of Mount Rushmore.
Seven Years After Execution, Kurdish Teacher Farzad Kamangar's Legacy of Hope Remains
"I know that one day, this harsh and uneven road will be paved for teachers and the suffering you endured will be a badge of honour..."
A Video Game Offers a Rare Nuanced Glimpse Into the 1979 Iranian Revolution
A new Iranian-designed video game achieves the rare feat of providing an accessible and authentic narrative on Iran’s history without compromising on either content or creativity.
Fighting the Good Fight: Immigration Advocates Challenge Trump's Executive Order
In airports and law offices around the United States, legal advocates and grassroots activists have found common ground in the fight against President Trump's Executive Order on Immigration.
Remembering Iran's Gholamreza Takhti, the Much-Loved Sportsman Who Wrestled with the Shah
Takhti’s opposition to the regime would also be his own undoing. On January 7, 1968, his lifeless body was found in a hotel room.
Student Leaders Spark Hope for Change on Iran’s National Student Day
"Iran’s civil society and student movements remain a ray of hope, and indeed pride, for a nation that continues to struggle for change."
In Iran, the Kurdish Struggle Remains in the Shadows
The Kurdish struggle remains one of the most compelling storylines of the Middle East. The Kurds of Iran are active, but often ignored by the international community.
‘My Life for Iran': The 4th Anniversary of Iranian Activist Sattar Beheshti's Death
Sattar Beheshti has come to embody the spirit of resistance in Iran, in an ongoing struggle against freedom of expression and government repression.
The U.S.'s Deportation of Haitians Shows That Asylum Applicants Are Far From Equal Under the Law
"Events like the 2010 earthquake should be basis for humanitarian asylum. Does sending people back to a country without a working infrastructure and facing famine and disease constitute justice?"
Iran Executes Hundreds of People Each Year in Its UN-Funded War on Drugs
Those who are executed are often individuals who are marginalized in Iranian society, such as undocumented migrants and refugees from neighbouring Afghanistan and ethnic and religious minorities.
