Join our network of supporters and partners dedicated to protecting the rights of Iranians and Iranian Americans.
Empowering and Protecting the Iranian American Community
We stand united to protect our rights, fight discrimination, and ensure equal opportunity for all. When the rights of Iranian Americans are challenged, we take action—advocating in the courts, supporting those in need, and building a stronger, more resilient community.
Join us in shaping a future where every Iranian American can thrive—free from discrimination and full of opportunity.
About Us
Legal protection and empowerment for all Iranians in America.
Our mission is to empower, protect, and defend Iranian Americans by expanding opportunities, strengthening rights, and fostering inclusion. We work to safeguard civil and political rights, eliminate discrimination, and create pathways for education and economic success.
Through advocacy, legal support, and community engagement, we ensure that every Iranian American can thrive, contribute, and shape a more just, inclusive, and prosperous future.
The IALDF is committed to tackling the most pressing challenges impacting the Iranian American community, including:
Economic Rights
Discrimination
Our Mission
Launching the IALDF
Since 2018, Iranian American lawyers Cyrus Mehri and Ali Rahnama have worked to bring the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) to life—a powerful force for justice, protection, and empowerment in our community.
Thanks to the visionary support of our founding donors, Bita Daryabari and Shiva Sarram, IALDF is no longer just an idea—it is a reality. We will be in the courts, in the community, and on the front lines, fighting discrimination, defending civil rights, and ensuring that every Iranian American has access to justice.
Our future is one where no Iranian American faces discrimination or hate alone, where our rights are protected, and where our voices are heard. This is our movement, and it starts with you. Stand with us. Join us in building a stronger, more just future—together.
Contact Us
Partner with the IALDF and make a lasting impact on the lives of Iranian Americans.
We're building a network of legal professionals, community leaders, and donors dedicated to defending our community's rights. Join us today and be part of this important movement.
Board of Directors
Meet the Visionary Leaders Championing Justice and Prosperity for the Iranian American Community
Through their dedication and expertise, our Board of Directors not only shapes IALDF’s initiatives but also strengthens the legal and social standing of Iranian Americans nationwide.
At the heart of the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund (IALDF) is a distinguished Board of Directors—legal experts, community leaders, and advocates united by a shared mission: to protect the rights of Iranian Americans. With deep expertise in law, policy, and civil rights, our board members guide IALDF’s strategic vision, ensuring fair representation, legal defense, and advocacy for our community. Their leadership drives our commitment to justice, equality, and empowerment.
Bita Daryabari is an Iranian-American philanthropist known for advancing Persian culture, empowering women and girls, and expanding educational opportunities worldwide. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Telecommunication Management from Golden Gate University. After a successful career at GammaLink and MCI Communications—where she earned multiple accolades—she shifted her focus to philanthropy.
In 2010, Ms. Daryabari founded Pars Equality Center, which supports the full integration of Persian (Iranian) immigrants, refugees, and asylees in the United States. Her passion for literature led her to establish the Bita Daryabari Endowment in Persian Letters at Stanford University, facilitating expanded course offerings, conferences, and the annual Bita Award in Persian Letters.
Globally, her philanthropic work is channeled through the Unique Zan Foundation, which emphasizes education, health, and economic opportunities for women—particularly in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. Projects include building an all-girls school in Kabul, supporting women’s centers in Palestine, and funding schools in Jordan and Africa. She also fosters Iranian arts and cultural initiatives, co-sponsoring the historic Cyrus Cylinder exhibition at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum and supporting Iranian artists at events like the Venice Biennale.
Her recognitions include an Honorary Doctorate from Golden Gate University, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and a United Nations Appreciation Award. Ms. Daryabari also serves as a Visionary Circle Member of the X-Prize Foundation, reflecting her commitment to innovative, global problem-solving.
Shiva Sarram is the Founder and Executive Director of the Blossom Hill Foundation. Born in Tehran, she moved to Europe and ultimately settled in the United States in the 1980s. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, then launched a career on Wall Street, working at Chase Manhattan Bank, Deloitte & Touche, Tiger Management, and McKinsey & Company.
For over three decades, Shiva has engaged in philanthropy, serving on the Board of the Tiger Foundation—a $100 million grant-making organization—for ten years. Her commitment to war-affected children led her to establish the Blossom Hill Foundation in 2009; it has since created 14 schools and programs worldwide for conflict-impacted families. In 2025, she joined other Iranian American community leaders to found the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, dedicated to safeguarding constitutional rights for all.
Shiva lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with her husband and two children, actively supporting social justice, climate change initiatives, foreign policy, and gun law reform. She is an avid traveler, photographer, and a proud Iranian American, finding constant inspiration in flowers, farms, and her cultural heritage.
Cyrus Mehri is a founding partner of Mehri & Skalet, PLLC, widely recognized for his landmark litigation on behalf of individuals and classes facing discrimination, civil rights violations, and corporate misconduct. Fast Company describes him as “a one-man army in the battle against business as usual,” and The New York Times notes that his work seeks “sweeping change, not the piecemeal kind.” He has led some of the largest race and gender discrimination cases in U.S. history—securing, for instance, record-breaking settlements of $176 million against Texaco and $192.5 million against Coca-Cola, coupled with comprehensive reforms to pay, promotions, and evaluations.
Mr. Mehri also launched the “Women on Wall Street” project, achieving more than $114 million in settlements against major financial institutions and catalyzing systemic changes to boost opportunities for women. In the sports world, he co-authored the influential study with Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. that led to the NFL adopting the “Rooney Rule,” helping significantly increase diversity in NFL management.
A graduate of Hartwick College and Cornell Law School, Mr. Mehri clerked for the Honorable John T. Nixon. He is also a founder of Working IDEAL, a consulting firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. His work has earned honors such as the Cornell Law School Public Service Award, recognition from Hartwick College, and accolades from the Detroit City Council and the City of Miami.
Mr. Rahnama is a distinguished attorney, social entrepreneur, and passionate enthusiast of constitutional law and jurisprudence. He is currently dedicated to developing responsible AI governance frameworks for leading corporations in the financial industry.
Before joining the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis, he served as a professor at Northeastern University, teaching constitutional and public international law. His extensive experience includes working with the UN Special Rapporteur on drafting of a proposed Convention on Crimes Against Humanity and working with African governments and non-governmental organizations to improve local legal systems and to prosecute human rights violators.
Additionally, he has provided expert advice on comparative constitutional law, assisting North African nations in drafting and revising their constitutions.
Bita Daryabari is an Iranian-American philanthropist known for advancing Persian culture, empowering women and girls, and expanding educational opportunities worldwide. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s in Telecommunication Management from Golden Gate University. After a successful career at GammaLink and MCI Communications—where she earned multiple accolades—she shifted her focus to philanthropy.
In 2010, Ms. Daryabari founded Pars Equality Center, which supports the full integration of Persian (Iranian) immigrants, refugees, and asylees in the United States. Her passion for literature led her to establish the Bita Daryabari Endowment in Persian Letters at Stanford University, facilitating expanded course offerings, conferences, and the annual Bita Award in Persian Letters.
Globally, her philanthropic work is channeled through the Unique Zan Foundation, which emphasizes education, health, and economic opportunities for women—particularly in Afghanistan, the Middle East, and Africa. Projects include building an all-girls school in Kabul, supporting women’s centers in Palestine, and funding schools in Jordan and Africa. She also fosters Iranian arts and cultural initiatives, co-sponsoring the historic Cyrus Cylinder exhibition at San Francisco’s Asian Art Museum and supporting Iranian artists at events like the Venice Biennale.
Her recognitions include an Honorary Doctorate from Golden Gate University, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and a United Nations Appreciation Award. Ms. Daryabari also serves as a Visionary Circle Member of the X-Prize Foundation, reflecting her commitment to innovative, global problem-solving.
Mr. Rahnama is a distinguished attorney, social entrepreneur, and passionate enthusiast of constitutional law and jurisprudence. He is currently dedicated to developing responsible AI governance frameworks for leading corporations in the financial industry.
Before joining the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis, he served as a professor at Northeastern University, teaching constitutional and public international law. His extensive experience includes working with the UN Special Rapporteur on drafting of a proposed Convention on Crimes Against Humanity and working with African governments and non-governmental organizations to improve local legal systems and to prosecute human rights violators.
Additionally, he has provided expert advice on comparative constitutional law, assisting North African nations in drafting and revising their constitutions.
Shiva Sarram is the Founder and Executive Director of the Blossom Hill Foundation. Born in Tehran, she moved to Europe and ultimately settled in the United States in the 1980s. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Economics from the University of Pennsylvania, then launched a career on Wall Street, working at Chase Manhattan Bank, Deloitte & Touche, Tiger Management, and McKinsey & Company.
For over three decades, Shiva has engaged in philanthropy, serving on the Board of the Tiger Foundation—a $100 million grant-making organization—for ten years. Her commitment to war-affected children led her to establish the Blossom Hill Foundation in 2009; it has since created 14 schools and programs worldwide for conflict-impacted families. In 2025, she joined other Iranian American community leaders to found the Iranian American Legal Defense Fund, dedicated to safeguarding constitutional rights for all.
Shiva lives in New Canaan, Connecticut, with her husband and two children, actively supporting social justice, climate change initiatives, foreign policy, and gun law reform. She is an avid traveler, photographer, and a proud Iranian American, finding constant inspiration in flowers, farms, and her cultural heritage.
Cyrus Mehri is a founding partner of Mehri & Skalet, PLLC, widely recognized for his landmark litigation on behalf of individuals and classes facing discrimination, civil rights violations, and corporate misconduct. Fast Company describes him as “a one-man army in the battle against business as usual,” and The New York Times notes that his work seeks “sweeping change, not the piecemeal kind.” He has led some of the largest race and gender discrimination cases in U.S. history—securing, for instance, record-breaking settlements of $176 million against Texaco and $192.5 million against Coca-Cola, coupled with comprehensive reforms to pay, promotions, and evaluations.
Mr. Mehri also launched the “Women on Wall Street” project, achieving more than $114 million in settlements against major financial institutions and catalyzing systemic changes to boost opportunities for women. In the sports world, he co-authored the influential study with Johnnie L. Cochran Jr. that led to the NFL adopting the “Rooney Rule,” helping significantly increase diversity in NFL management.
A graduate of Hartwick College and Cornell Law School, Mr. Mehri clerked for the Honorable John T. Nixon. He is also a founder of Working IDEAL, a consulting firm focused on diversity, equity, and inclusion. His work has earned honors such as the Cornell Law School Public Service Award, recognition from Hartwick College, and accolades from the Detroit City Council and the City of Miami.