Governance

Meet the 2025-2027 Leadership Council members elected at the 2025 General Assembly in Berlin.

Founders

LEOPOLDO LÓPEZ

Leopoldo López

2023-2025 Secretary General / Co-founder

Venezuela

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MASIH ALINEJAD

Masih Alinejad

2023-2025 President / Co-founder

Iran

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GARRY KASPAROV

Garry Kasparov

2023-2025 Vice-President / Co-founder

Russia

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Executive Council

The Executive Council leads the strategic direction and global mission of the World Liberty Congress. Comprised of influential voices in the fight for democracy, the Executive Council sets the policies and priorities that guide our organization. These individuals bring years of expertise, dedication, and a steadfast commitment to defending freedom and human rights worldwide.

Félix Maradiaga

Nicaragua

President of the WLC

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Shukria Barakzai

Afghanistan

Vice President of the WLC

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Carine Kanimba

Rwanda

General Secretary of the WLC

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Andrei Sannikov

Belarus

Ombudsperson of the WLC

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Chemi Lhamo

Tibet

Spokesperson of the WLC

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Leadership Council

The Leadership Council is a network of leaders from various regions who work directly with communities impacted by authoritarian regimes. They represent a diverse range of experiences, skills, and cultural perspectives, united by a shared goal: to support democratic movements and empower those facing oppression.

Asia Pacific

Mu Sochua

Cambodia

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Sophie Luo

China

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Wu´er Kaixi

China

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Alex Chow

Hong Kong

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Carmen Lau.

Hong Kong

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Tenzin Passang

Tibet

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Sai

Myanmar

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Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Arif Yunus

Azerbaijan

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Mehman Huseynov -tiny

Mehman Huseynov

Azerbaijan

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Bota Jardemalie-tiny

Bota Jardemalie

Kazakhstan

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Muhamadjon Kabirov-tiny

Muhamadjon Kabirov

Tajikistan

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The Americas

Alejandra Serrate

Bolivia

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Kiele Cabrera-tiny

Kiele Cabrera

Cuba

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Alfredo Jimeno -tiny

Alfredo Jimeno

Venezuela

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Middle East and North Africa

Nilofar Ayoubi

Afghanistan

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Hesam Misaghi-tiny

Hesam Misaghi

Iran

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member

Maryam Khadem

Iran

Katya Alkhateeb-tiny

Dr. Katya Alkhateeb

Syria

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Oguzhan Albayrak

Turkey

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Sub-Saharan Africa

Carbone Beni

Democratic Republic of Congo

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Cellou Diallo-tiny

Cellou Diallo

Guinea

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Venâncio Mondlane

Mozambique

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Natacha Abingeneye-tiny

Natacha Abingeneye

Rwanda

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Tut Jikany

South Sudan

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Hager Eissa-tiny

Hager Eissa

Sudan

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William Amanzuru

Uganda

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Tendai Biti-tiny

Tendai Biti

Zimbabwe

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Regional Secretaries

Our Regional Secretaries are essential links within the World Liberty Congress, acting as primary contacts and coordinators in their respective regions. These individuals support local leaders, bridge communication between regions, and implement strategies that align with the organization’s mission. Their efforts ensure that our global movement for freedom remains cohesive, responsive, and impactful.

Samady Ou

Cambodia

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Natalia Pelevina-tiny

Natalia Pelevina

Russia

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Jonathan Duarte-tiny

Jonathan Duarte

Nicaragua

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Neda Soltani-tiny

Neda Soltani

Iran

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Dr. Alfred Anyama Berliner

Uganda

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Chief Governance and Policy Officer

The Chief Governance and Policy Officer (the Parliamentarian) ensures procedural integrity, coherence, and compliance with the WLC’s rules and ethical code.

Ammar Abdulhamid WLC Member 2025

Ammar Abdulhamid

Syria

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Discover Our Previous Leadership Period

Explore the Governance Archive for the 2023–2025 period to learn about our former leadership structure, key milestones, and the people who shaped our journey. Gain insight into the evolution of World Liberty Congress and the foundation laid for our current mission.

Go to Governance Archive 2023–2025

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Leopoldo López

2023-2025 Secretary General / Co-founder

Leopoldo López is a Freedom Activist from Venezuela. He was a political prisoner from 2014 to 2020 after being sentenced to fourteen years in prison for leading non-violent street protests and civil resistance in 2014. After spending seven years in confinement, he managed to escape the autocratic regime of Nicolas Maduro in October of 2020 and was able to travel to Spain where he lives with his family. Leopoldo López is married to Lilian Tintori and has three children.

From 2000 to 2008 Leopoldo López was mayor of the Municipality of Chacao in Caracas and was later illegally disqualified to run for office. He won his case at the Inter American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR). In 2009, he founded the political party and freedom movement called Voluntad Popular (Popular Will) and became its national coordinator. Leopoldo López is the co-founder of the World Liberty Congress, an organization launched in 2022 that seeks to serve as the counterweight against the global autocratic alliance by connecting non-violent, prodemocracy activists and leaders from across the globe. Also, presently Leopoldo López is a visiting fellow at the Wilson Center and The Institute, and has also been a lecturer in the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies in Stanford University.

Studies: Bachelor’s degree cum laude from Kenyon College (1993). Master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University (1996). Lopez was awarded a honoris causa doctorate in Law from Kenyon College in 2007.

Books:

  • Venezuela Energética. Oil and energy proposal to leverage the well-being and progress of the citizens of Venezuela. (2017).
  • Preso pero Libre (Freedom Confined) Reflections of Lopez experience in prison (2016).

Published articles:

  • Challenging Autocracy From the Front Lines (2023), Wilson Center.
  • Crypto in Venezuela: Two Sides of a Coin (2024), Wilson Center; co-authored.
  • Opinion pieces in The Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Financial Times, among others.

Awards: NED’s 2013 Democracy Award, Alumni Achievement Award from Harvard University (2014) and Sakharov European Parliament Prize (2017); among others.

Masih Alinejad

2023-2025 President / Co-founder

Masih Alinejad is an Iranian-American journalist, author, and distinguished women’s rights activist. She serves as co-founder and President of the World Liberty Congress, and is a co-founder of United Against Gender Apartheid, an international campaign to end systemic gender discrimination.

Exiled from Iran due to her critical reporting, Alinejad has become a leading global advocate for democracy and women’s rights. She’s become a target of persistent threats from the Islamic Republic of Iran. The FBI has foiled three assassination plots against her life, and in March 2025, two men, Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov, were convicted in a New York federal court for their roles in a 2022 murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by Iran to silence her.

Alinejad gained international recognition through My Stealthy Freedom (2014), a groundbreaking campaign challenging Iran’s compulsory hijab laws, which sparked one of the largest acts of civil disobedience in the Islamic Republic’s history. She played a pivotal role in the Woman, Life, Freedom movement following Mahsa Amini’s death in 2022, amplifying Iranian women’s voices and framing the protests as a dual fight for women’s rights and democratic reform.

Her activism and its personal toll are documented in the award-winning film Be My Voice (2021), directed by Nahid Persson Sarvestani. Undeterred by ongoing threats, Alinejad continues her work from exile, reaching millions through her journalism, public speaking, and advocacy.

After 8 years of leading Tablet, a political satire show on Voice of America, she hosts The World According to Masih, a podcast exploring democracy, human rights, and the global struggle against authoritarianism.

Her leadership has earned her prestigious honors, including Time Magazine’s Woman of the Year (2023), the Oxi Courage Award, and the Washington Institute’s Scholar-Statesman Award.

Garry Kasparov

2023-2025 Vice-President / Co-founder

Garry Kasparov is the chairman and founder of the Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI), which publishes The Next Move as well as the Vice-Chairman of the World Liberty Congress. Widely considered the greatest chess-player of all time, Garry became the under-18 chess champion of the USSR at the age of 12 and the world under-20 champion at 17. He came to international fame at the age of 22 as the youngest world chess champion in history in 1985. His famous matches against the IBM supercomputer Deep Blue in 1996-97 were key to bringing artificial intelligence and chess into the mainstream.

Today he is an anti-tyranny crusader, one of the most prominent enemies of Putin, and an activist for freedom around the world. He is the author of the 2015 book: Winter is Coming: Why Vladimir Putin and the Enemies of the Free World Must be Stopped.

Félix Maradiaga

PRESIDENT (Nicaragua)

Nicaraguan academic, entrepreneur, political activist, and the principal opposition figure in exile against the Ortega dictatorship.

  • Leadership: Recognized as one of Latin America’s most prominent voices for democracy and a leading advocate for democratic values across the region.
  • Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Founded ventures in impact investing, education services, and renewable energy. He pioneered the promotion of Bitcoin as a tool for philanthropy and civil liberties in Latin America.
  • Resistance & Imprisonment: In 2021, he was detained by the Ortega regime for running for president and held for 611 days under inhumane conditions. He was later stripped of his nationality and expelled to the United States.
  • Current Roles: Formally nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. Serves as President of the Foundation for the Freedom of Nicaragua, Trustee of Freedom House, and teaches at the University of Virginia and Johns Hopkins University.

Shukria Barakzai

Afghan politician, diplomat, journalist, and global women’s rights advocate recognized as a fearless voice against extremism and gender apartheid.

  • Core Mission: Dedicated her life to advancing justice, peacebuilding, and women’s empowerment globally. She is a prominent figure in the movement for women’s rights and democratic governance.
  • Key Initiative: Founder and President of Action for Justice (A4J), where she leads the global campaign to codify gender apartheid as a crime under international law.
  • Political Career: Previously served as the Ambassador of Afghanistan to Norway (2016–2019) and was a Member of the Afghan Parliament (2005–2016), advancing reforms in rule of law and gender equality despite facing repeated assassination attempts.
  • Recognition: Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and honored with the Global Thinker Award (Foreign Policy Magazine, 2015) and BBC Woman of the Year (2005).

Carine Kanimba

Human rights advocate dedicated to confronting authoritarianism, defending political prisoners, and strengthening global solidarity for democracy.

  • Key Campaign: Led the international #FreeRusesabagina campaign, securing the 2023 release of her father, Paul Rusesabagina (the humanitarian who inspired Hotel Rwanda), after his forced abduction and imprisonment by the Rwandan government.
  • Repression & Advocacy: A confirmed victim of Pegasus spyware deployed by the Rwandan government. She testified before the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament, calling for accountability in the spyware industry.
  • Focus Areas: A leading voice against sportswashing—the use of international sports by dictatorships to launder their reputations and distract from human rights abuses.
  • Current Role: Serves as Spokesperson and Head of Partnerships at the World Liberty Congress (WLC), coordinating global advocacy to expose repression and support pro-democracy movements.

Andrei Sannikov

Career diplomat and prominent opposition politician who resigned in protest against the Lukashenko regime to become a leading voice for democracy in Belarus.

  • Political Background: Served as Deputy Foreign Minister (1995–1996) before resigning in protest against President Lukashenko’s policies in 1996.
  • Key Opposition Role: Co-founded the civic initiative Charter 97.Ran as a presidential candidate in the 2010 election, securing the second-highest share of the vote.
  • Imprisonment and Exile: Following mass protests, he was arrested, brutally beaten, and incarcerated for nearly 16 months. He was released in 2012 under strong international pressure and now lives in exile in Europe, advocating for human rights and political freedoms in Belarus.

Chemi Lhamo

Tibetan-Canadian human rights activist and community organizer whose life reflects resilience and a deep commitment to justice, focusing on the plight of Tibetans under Chinese rule.

  • Background: Born stateless to Tibetan refugee parents, she moved to Toronto at age 11. Her activism drew international attention and backlash after she was elected President of the Scarborough Campus Students’ Union in 2019.
  • Key Advocacy: Has delivered keynotes at global forums to highlight the plight of Tibetans and call for international solidarity. She led protests against the 2022 Beijing Olympics, spotlighting China’s human rights abuses.
  • Leadership Roles: Former Campaigns Director of Students for a Free Tibet and a Canadian representative for the International Tibet Network. She is a Human Rights Foundation Freedom Fellow.
  • Recognition: Named to Maclean’s Top 50 Power List in Canada (2022) and received the Urban Hero Award for Social Issues.

Mu Sochua

Cambodian human rights advocate and former politician celebrated for her long-standing leadership in women’s rights and democratic reform.

  • Government Service: Served as Minister of Women’s and Veterans’ Affairs (1998–2004), where she played a pivotal role in drafting Cambodia’s first laws against domestic violence and human trafficking.
  • Opposition & Exile: Former Vice President of the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) until its forced dissolution in 2017. Compelled into exile following a brutal crackdown.
  • Current Role: Now serves as the President of the Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD), a global coalition advocating for democratic reform and free elections.

Sophie Luo Shengchun

Chinese human rights advocate and full-time dissident whose work brings global attention to the persecution of peaceful activists in China, primarily from exile.

  • Personal Campaign: Began her advocacy as a personal fight for justice, calling for the release of her husband, lawyer Ding Jiaxi, imprisoned for his role in the New Citizens Movement.
  • Impact: Documented abuses tied to the “12·26” crackdown, testified before the U.S. Congress, and spoke at UN forums to spotlight the torture and solitary confinement of political prisoners.
  • Philosophy: Believes that truth-telling is a form of resistance, challenging authoritarian narratives and affirming the dignity of those who resist.

Wuer Kaixi

Prominent Chinese dissident and key organizer of the 1989 Tiananmen Square student movement, dedicated to democracy and human rights advocacy from exile.

  • Historical Significance: Following the June 4 massacre, he was listed second on the Chinese government’s most-wanted list of student leaders, leading to his exile.
  • Advocacy Focus: A leading commentator on Chinese politics, focusing on the Uyghur genocide, the Hong Kong democratic struggle, and Western “appeasement” toward Beijing.
  • Current Roles: General Secretary of the Taiwan Parliamentary Human Rights Commission, and Honorary Chairman of the Campaign for Uyghurs.

Alex Chow

Hong Kong democracy activist whose life's work bridges street-level mobilization and international advocacy, carrying the spirit of Hong Kong’s democratic struggle.

  • Key Role: A central figure in the 2014 Umbrella Movement as Secretary-General of the Hong Kong Federation of Students, leading mass protests for universal suffrage.
  • Repression: Imprisoned for seven months in 2017 for his role in the movement, and later nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize alongside Joshua Wong and Nathan Law.
  • Current Work: Now a doctoral candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, he connects academic inquiry on decolonial political thought with frontline advocacy.

Carmen Lau

Lives in Exile, Living in UK

Pro-Democracy Activist, Human Rights Advocate

Carmen Lau is a human rights advocate from Hong Kong, currently living in exile in the UK under a HK$1 million National Security Law bounty.

She was elected as a district councillor during Hong Kong’s 2019 pro-democracy movement and later became Secretary-General of the Civic Party, then the city’s second-largest pro-democracy party before its forced dissolution.

Amid escalating repression, she was forced to resign her elected office in 2021 and fled to the UK. That same year, she was wanted for “blank votes incitement,” and in December 2024, she was targeted again with an arrest warrant and the bounty on her head. Her family has since been interrogated by national security agents, while her neighbours in the UK have received anonymous letters encouraging bounty hunting.

From exile, Carmen has continued her fight for democracy and civil liberties. She founded Hong Kong March, a UK-wide cultural month to preserve Hong Kong identity abroad, and led the Vote for Hong Kong 2024 campaign to mobilize diaspora political influence. She also serves on the Leadership Council of the World Liberty Congress, working alongside global dissidents to strengthen the transnational pro-democracy movement.

She has testified before the UK Parliament on media freedom and the crackdown on Hong Kong’s civil society, spoken at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, Oslo Freedom Forum, and Chatham House, and been featured in the Financial Times, Politico, BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Channel 4, NBC News, and France 2.

Tenzin Passang

Tibetan human rights advocate

Human rights advocate and community organizer

Whose work centers on nonviolent resistance, youth empowerment, and the preservation of Tibetan identity. As National Director of Students for a Free Tibet – India, she has trained student leaders in strategic advocacy, digital safety, and international engagement—connecting grassroots organizing with global campaigns for Tibetan freedom.

Born in exile and raised amid stories of resistance, Tenzin’s activism was sparked by a moment in college when classmates failed to recognize Tibet as a country. That experience ignited a lifelong commitment to civic education and global awareness. She joined SFT Delhi in 2015 and quickly became a leading voice in youth mobilization, organizing protests, awareness drives, and solidarity actions across South Asia.

Tanzin’s leadership reflects a blend of compassion and strategy. She has coordinated Human Rights Day campaigns, spoken at UN forums, and built coalitions that amplify Tibetan voices in international policy spaces. Her work challenges surveillance and repression while affirming the right of Tibetans to speak, associate, and live freely.

Inspired by His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s teachings on nonviolence and justice, Tanzin sees activism as both a duty and a spiritual practice. She mentors young organizers, supports political prisoners, and continues to push for a future where Tibetan culture, language, and belief are protected—not criminalized.

Today, Tenzin remains a driving force in the Tibetan freedom movement, believing that solidarity and truth-telling are the most powerful tools in the long struggle for liberation.

Sai

Multidisciplinary artist

Shan multidisciplinary artist, curator, and human rights advocate

His practice turns atrocity, survivor memory, and political disappearance into public evidence through photography, installation, cartography, performance, archives, and digital painting. He is cofounder and director of the Myanmar Peace Museum, the first institution in Myanmar’s history dedicated to memorialization and the creation of a counter archive documenting war crimes, survivor testimony, and resistance.
Since the 2021 military coup, Sai’s life and work have been shaped by direct political persecution. His father, Dr. Linn Htut, a democratically elected Chief Minister, was abducted, tortured, and sentenced to twenty years in prison by the junta. In 2024, Sai’s childhood home was destroyed in an airstrike. In 2023, he filed the only known formal communication from Myanmar to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention since the coup, leading to Opinion No. 5/2025, which found his father’s detention arbitrary and called for his immediate release.
His work continues across international platforms despite censorship and transnational repression. In 2025, Constellation of Complicity, co-curated with K at Bangkok Art and Culture Centre, came under pressure from the Chinese Embassy, Thai authorities, and police within 72 hours of opening after the exhibition exposed authoritarian solidarity and included Tibetan, Uyghur, Hong Kong, and Myanmar resistance. The censorship drew international media coverage and public campaigns in Thailand.
Sai’s work has been exhibited across Asia, Europe, and the Americas, including through Magnum Photos’ Beyond the Silence project in Kazakhstan, Mexico, Cambodia, Ukraine, Nigeria, and beyond. He is the Southeast Asia Representative of Beyond the Silence, a nominee for the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award, and the elected Asia Pacific and Southeast Asia representative on the Leadership Council of the World Liberty Congress, where he focuses on political prisoners and cultural freedom.
In 2026, Sai received the Václav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent at the Oslo Freedom Forum.

Arif Yunus

Azerbaijani historian, author, and human rights defender whose career reflects a steadfast commitment to truth, peaceful coexistence, and defending political prisoners.

  • Scholarship & Peacebuilding: Co-founded the Institute for Peace and Democracy and has published over 8 books and 260 articles, promoting dialogue between Armenian and Azerbaijani intellectuals.
  • Repression: Arrested in 2014 alongside his wife on politically motivated charges of treason and fraud. He endured torture and severe health deterioration before being released into exile in the Netherlands in 2016.
  • Legacy: His work stands as a testament to moral courage and the enduring fight for human rights in Azerbaijan.

Mehman Huseynov

Azerbaijani journalist, blogger, and human rights defender recognized for his fearless reporting on corruption and abuse of power.

  • Impact: Gained prominence through Sancaq Media, a satirical investigative platform that exposed state misconduct despite heavy censorship.
  • Personal Cost: Has endured harassment, imprisonment, and smear campaigns. International human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have championed his case as emblematic of the shrinking space for free expression.
  • Current Focus: Continues to document violations, train young activists, and advocate for press freedom and democratic reform.

Bota Jardemalie

Harvard Law graduate, New York-licensed attorney, and human rights defender from Kazakhstan, advocating against authoritarianism and transnational repression.

  • Expertise: Defended the Kazakh opposition, political activists, and victims of torture. She advocates for Interpol reform, personal sanctions regimes, and against the misuse of mutual legal cooperation.
  • Persecution: Granted political asylum in Belgium after being recognized as a victim of transnational repression, including a probed criminal conspiracy targeting her for kidnapping.
  • Resistance: The regime arrested her brother in 2017 as retaliation, but he was eventually released after two years of international pressure.

Muhamadjon Kabirov

Tajik journalist, human rights defender, and leading advocate for press freedom, democratic reform, and the support of refugees.

  • Media Leadership: Editor-in-chief of Azda.TV, an independent Tajik-language news network based in Poland.
  • Advocacy: Former Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow (NED) and an investigative fellow with OCCRP, publishing major investigations into corruption within Tajikistan’s political elite. He advocates for political prisoners and stateless persons.
  • NGO Work: President of the Board of Directors of the Foundation for Intercultural Integration, which supports refugees, and founded the NGO Eurasian Dialogue.

Alejandra Serrate

Bolivian lawyer, columnist, and democracy activist whose work bridges legal advocacy with grassroots mobilization and women’s empowerment.

  • Key Advocacy: Co-founded Resistencia Femenina Bolivia, a women-led movement dedicated to political participation and civil rights. She is a frequent voice challenging authoritarianism on media and social platforms.
  • Impact: Addressed over one million people at Bolivia’s Cabildo for Democracy in 2019. Served as Director and Advisor for the Autonomous Departmental Government of Santa Cruz.
  • International Profile: Selected for the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitors Leadership Program and is a 2024 Human Rights Foundation Fellow.

Kiele Cabrera

Fourth-generation Cuban American activist, artist, and dissident who bridges creative expression with bold civic action for freedom in Cuba.

  • Key Action: Rose to prominence in 2021 by interrupting an Olympic baseball qualifier with a “Free Cuba” banner, spotlighting the democracy movement’s demands internationally.
  • Focus: Leading voice in exile advocating for political prisoners, freedom of expression, and the right of Cubans to determine their future.
  • Cultural Resistance: Collaborated on works honoring Cuba’s dissident legacy, including the multi-award-winning film Plantadas. Her advocacy blends art, strategy, and cultural resistance.
  • Leadership: Youngest Secretariat member of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance.

Alfredo Jimeno

Venezuelan lawyer, human rights defender, and politician with two decades of experience in public administration and democratic reform, currently living in exile in Spain.

  • Political Role: Founding member of the opposition party Voluntad Popular and serves on its National Executive Board. He championed democratic reforms, fought corruption, and strengthened the rule of law at the municipal level.
  • Regional Advocacy: As a World Liberty Congress Regional Secretary, he amplifies the voices of Latin American activists and builds coalitions to counter authoritarian influence.
  • Key Action: Led the “WLC Faces of Torture” exhibit in Madrid, exposing the systematic torture machinery used by authoritarian regimes in Bolivia, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela.
  • Current Focus: Dedicated to advocating for political prisoners, strengthening civil society, and providing expert testimony to legislative bodies and EU institutions.

Nilofar Ayoubi

Afghan women’s and human rights defender who embodies resilience, known for her entrepreneurial work and advocacy against gender apartheid.

  • Early Activism: As a child, she disguised herself as a boy to access education under Taliban rule. Later, she founded multiple businesses, creating jobs for hundreds of women in Afghanistan.
  • Global Advocacy: Forced to flee in 2021, she now serves as the Regional Secretary for Middle East & North Africa at World Liberty. She is a founding member of #UnitedAgainstGenderApartheid.
  • Aid Work: Founding partner of organizations in Poland and the USA that deliver aid, medical evacuations, and run shelters for refugees from Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Belarus.

Hesam Misaghi

Iranian pro-democracy activist dedicated to human rights, digital freedom, and equality, with a focus on building independent digital infrastructure.

  • Advocacy Focus: Actively engaged in grassroots and international efforts, advocating for digital freedom and equality for Internet users in Iran.
  • Community Insight: As a member of the Bahá’í community, he provides firsthand insight into systemic discrimination and is deeply committed to justice and inclusion.

Dr. Katya Alkhateeb

Syrian researcher and law expert working at the intersection of armed conflict, international law, and accountability for war crimes in Syria.

  • Expertise: Director of the Syria in Transition project and Senior Researcher at Essex Law School.Specializes in accountability for war crimes and state responsibility in armed conflict.
  • Focus: Her work examines pathways to transitional justice in Syria. She co-directs the Digital Verification Unit of Human Rights Abuses and supports documentation of violations, prioritizing survivor voices.
  • Analysis: Highlights the gap between promises of inclusive governance and the reality of sectarian violence in Syria’s post-Assad transition.

Oguzhan Albayrak

Turkish human rights advocate, political advisor, and former diplomat with expertise in EU–Turkey relations, democratic reform, and international engagement.

  • Background: Served as an official in the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Forced into exile for his outspoken opposition to President Erdoğan’s authoritarian policies.
  • Expertise: Works from Germany as a trusted advisor to pro-democracy movements, bridging government, academia, and activism with strategic political analysis.
  • Mission: Committed to building a democratic future for Turkey grounded in the rule of law, civic participation, and respect for human dignity.

Carbone Beni

Prominent pro-democracy activist and human rights defender known for promoting youth participation and opposing unconstitutional presidential term extensions.

  • Citizen Movement: Co-founded the citizen movement Filimbi (“Whistleblower” in Swahili) in 2015.
  • Repression & Education: Faced severe repression, including one year of imprisonment. Founded the ICON Institute for Alternatives (ICONIA) focused on training, leadership, and civic education.
  • Current Focus: Leads the social movement PACTE (Patriotes en Action pour l’Émergence de la République), advocating for peace agreements, national sovereignty, and transitional justice, while preparing a new generation for leadership.

Cellou Diallo

Seasoned Guinean statesman, former Prime Minister, and political leader with decades of experience in public administration, governance, and democratic advocacy.

  • Government Experience: Served for more than a decade as a minister and Prime Minister of Guinea, playing a key role in public policy formulation and national development projects.
  • Democratic Struggle: Spent over 15 years as a political party leader fighting to promote and defend democracy, public freedoms, and human rights in Guinea.
  • Recognition: Recipient of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation’s Africa Freedom Award, honoring decisive contributions to the advancement of democracy and freedom in Africa.

Venâncio Mondlane

Mozambican political leader and activist dedicated to advancing democracy, good governance, and civic participation through peaceful and inclusive means.

  • Political Role: Established himself as a prominent voice promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen empowerment as a Member of Parliament.
  • New Movement: Founder of the Aliança Nacional para um Moçambique Livre e Autónomo (ANAMOLA) (2025), a political movement devoted to building an inclusive, sovereign, and democratic Mozambique.
  • Vision: His leadership reflects a vision of democracy rooted in inclusion, dialogue, and social justice, inspiring a new generation of Mozambican leaders.

Natacha Abingeneye

Rwandan human rights activist and civic organizer based in Belgium, dedicated to solidarity and the universal right to democracy from exile.

  • Exile Activism: Former president of Jambo ASBL, a Brussels/Paris-based diaspora civic group.
  • Advocacy Focus: Mobilized the Rwandan diaspora to engage with European institutions, seeking dialogue on post-conflict governance, accountability, and civic freedoms in Rwanda.
  • Commitment: Her work highlights the complexities of diaspora-led activism in confronting painful historical truths and pursuing democracy and reconciliation.

Tut Jikany

South Sudanese political activist, educator, and philanthropist committed to democracy, human rights, and social progress in a country emerging from conflict.

  • Key Role: Founder and CEO of the South Sudan Democracy Initiative (SSDNI), dedicated to strengthening democratic governance, civic engagement, and accountability.
  • Focus: Instrumental in promoting peaceful political participation, civic education, and institutional reform, with a vision centered on citizen empowerment and inclusion.
  • Engagement: Collaborates with African leaders through the World Liberty Congress and the Platform for African Democrats to advocate for freedom and good governance across the continent.

Hager Eissa

Sudanese women’s rights advocate and peacebuilder whose work bridges grassroots organizing, global activism, and support for political prisoners.

  • Global Recognition: Recognized through prestigious platforms, including an Obama Leader (2023), UN Youth Fellow (2024), and named one of the 100 Most Influential People of African Descent Under 40 (MIPAD 2023).
  • Key Initiatives: Launched “It’s All About You Queens,” a digital platform for women of color, and founded Echos of Freedom (2024), a conference supporting political prisoners and raising global awareness of their struggles.
  • Peace Advocacy: A powerful voice for Sudan’s political transition, serving as a Global Peace Ambassador and participating in international dialogues on conflict resolution and women’s inclusion.

William Amanzuru

Ugandan environmental rights defender and community organizer whose work has reshaped the fight for climate and environmental justice in East Africa.

  • Key Initiative: Founder and team leader of Friends of Zoka, a grassroots movement dedicated to protecting Uganda’s forest reserves from illegal logging and systemic corruption.
  • Personal Cost & Resistance: Faced death threats and constant surveillance. Organized a 470-kilometer walk to Zoka Forest in 2019, mobilizing public support and international attention.
  • Focus: Links environmental destruction to broader governance failures, advocating for transparency, accountability, human rights, and the rule of law.
  • Recognition: Recipient of the European Union Human Rights Defenders Award (2019).

Tendai Biti

Zimbabwean lawyer, opposition leader, and former Minister of Finance (2009–2013) who gained international prominence for implementing critical fiscal reforms.

  • Political Impact: Implemented fiscal reforms that curbed hyperinflation and laid foundations for economic recovery during Zimbabwe’s financial crisis.
  • Opposition Leadership: Founding figure in the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and led negotiations with the ruling party (ZANU–PF) on peaceful transitions and electoral integrity.
  • Expertise: A seasoned constitutional litigator who has published extensively and remains a central voice for democratic reforms and civic empowerment in Zimbabwe.

Samady Ou

Cambodian youth activist and democracy advocate who champions nonviolent change and the empowerment of the younger generation.

  • Activism: Has organized and led large-scale peaceful protests with the Cambodian diaspora, mobilizing thousands and placing international pressure on the former dictator Hun Sen.
  • Leadership: Youth Vice Chair of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) and Youth Ambassador for the Khmer Movement for Democracy (KMD).
  • Distinctions: Selected as a 2024–2025 Freedom Fellow by the Human Rights Foundation, recognized for his leadership in peaceful activism.

Natalia Pelevina

Russian opposition activist, investigative writer, and protest artist who has exposed corruption and challenged the Putin regime since returning to Russia in 2012.

  • Activism: Worked alongside figures like Boris Nemtsov and Alexei Navalny, helped organize the Bolotnaya Square demonstrations, and collaborated on anti-corruption investigations.
  • Resistance: Faced smear campaigns, surveillance, and a politically motivated travel ban. She was arrested after standing outside the Kremlin with a Ukrainian flag following the 2022 invasion.
  • Exile & Focus: Now in exile in Latvia, she focuses on transitional justice and documenting abuses. Her leadership emphasizes that dissent must be creative, courageous, and relentless.

Jonathan Duarte

Regional Secretary (Nicaragua)

Nicaraguan-American pro-democracy activist, electoral campaign strategist, and political consultant dedicated to the fight for freedom and democratic governance.

  • Executive Role: Executive Director of the Nicaraguan Freedom Foundation (Fundacíon Libertad), leading efforts to expose human rights abuses and advocate for political prisoners in Nicaragua.
  • Strategic Focus: Works to strengthen global coalitions, provide strategic support to frontlines democracy movements, and ensure that voices silenced by repression are heard globally.
  • Distinctions: Former Human Rights Foundation (HRF) Freedom Fellow and serves on the Board of Directors of the Alianza Para Centroamérica.

Neda Soltani

Is a German-Iranian author, academic and women’s rights advocate with a long-standing commitment to human rights and pro-democracy movements in Iran. She has supported numerous initiatives both inside Iran and in Germany, where she has been living as a political refugee since 2009.

In addition to her advocacy work, Neda is a recognized leader in education rights and academic freedom. She serves on several regional, national and international boards, collaborating with fellow experts to champion the protection and empowerment of at-risk and displaced scholars and students. Through her work, Neda continues to advance inclusive, democratic, and equitable access to education and production of knowledge.

Dr. Alfred Anyama Berliner

Ugandan medical doctor and human rights advocate whose work bridges clinical care, civic leadership, and public accountability in the health sector.

  • Dual Role: A frontline medical professional who serves underserved communities while speaking out against corruption, inequality, and systemic failures in the health sector.
  • Activism: Rose to prominence as Guild President of Gulu University, where he championed student rights and called for reforms in medical education and intern deployment.
  • Focus: Advocates for transparency in medical practices and equitable access to care, reflecting a deep belief that health is a right protected through collective action.

Ammar Abdulhamid

Chief Governance and Policy Officer

Ammar Abdulhamid is a Syrian-American author and pro-democracy activist who was exiled from Syria in 2005 due to his outspoken criticism of the regime and advocacy for civil disobedience. Based in Silver Spring, Maryland, he founded the Tharwa Foundation to support pro-democracy and human rights activists in Southwest Asia and North Africa. Recognized by The New York Times, Newsweek, and USAID for his influence, Ammar played a key role in organizing Syria’s opposition during the 2011 uprising and facilitated civil society training and diplomatic engagement for Syrian activists. From 2018 to 2022, he co-hosted The Sam & Ammar Show on Al-Hurra TV, providing Arabic-language political analysis from a classical liberal perspective. He joined the World Liberty Congress in November 2022 and has been dedicating his time to serving as the Parliamentarian.

Get Involved

Are you interested in joining the World Liberty Congress network of pro-democracy leaders?

You are eligible to apply to join if you: 

  • Are a pro-democracy movement leader.
  • Stand for human rights, free and fair elections, and nonviolent action.
  • Are open to collaborating with other opposition movements from your country, region, and the world!
  • Have never discriminated against anyone due to their identity or beliefs.