Nazanin Afshin-Jam

Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay
نازنین افشین جم مک کی
Nazanin Afshin-Jam and Peter MacKay in 2014
Afshin-Jam and MacKay at the arrival of Prince Charles in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 2014
Born (1979-04-11) April 11, 1979
Tehran, Iran
NationalityCanadian
Alma mater * Norwich University (M.A. in Diplomacy)[2]
Occupation(s)Democracy and Human rights Activist, Author, Public Speaker, Singer, Actor
Known for * Founder of the Iranian Justice Collective[4]
SpousePeter MacKay (m. 2012)[5]
Children3[6]
Awards
  • Global Citizenship Award (UBC Alumni Association)[7]
  • Human Rights Hero Award (UN Watch)[8]
  • YMCA Power of Peace Emerging Leader Peacemaker Award[9]
  • Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal[10]
  • King Charles III Coronation Medal[11]

Nazanin Afshin-Jam MacKay (Persian: نازنین افشین جم مک کی, Nāzanin Afŝin Jam MacKay; born April 11, 1979) is an Iranian-Canadian human rights activist, author, public speaker, and former Miss World titleholder who was crowned Miss World Canada 2003 and placed first runner-up at Miss World 2003.[7][8] Born in Tehran, Iran, she and her family emigrated to Canada in 1981.[7] She is president and co-founder of Stop Child Executions, founder of the Iranian Justice Collective,[9] and established The Nazanin Foundation.[10] Afshin-Jam has spoken at international forums including the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy and the United Nations Human Rights Council. In 2025, she advocated for the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.[11] She has received multiple awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012)[12] and the King Charles III Coronation Medal (2023).[13] She is married to Peter MacKay, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and they have three children.[14]

Early life

Nazanin Afshin-Jam was born on April 11, 1979, in Tehran, Iran.[7] Her father was the head of the Sheraton Hotel in Tehran (now the Tehran Homa Hotel), frequented by westerners. Her mother converted to Christianity prior to the Iranian Revolution and both Afshin-Jam and her older sister were raised in her mother's faith.[15] During the Iranian revolution, her father was jailed by the Revolutionary Guard. After he was freed from prison, he fled Iran with his family to Spain and, after a year, they emigrated to Canada, settling in Vancouver.[7]

Education and Red Cross work

Afshin-Jam graduated with international relations and political science degrees from the University of British Columbia. In 2011, she earned her Master of Arts in Diplomacy from Norwich University and she has an honorary doctorate of law from the University of Western Ontario.[16]

Following her graduation, Afshin-Jam served as a Global Youth Educator with the Red Cross,[16] becoming involved in such matters as land mines, children, and war, the poverty-disease cycle, and natural disasters.[17]

Miss World 2003

Afshin-Jam was crowned Miss World Canada 2003 and represented Canada at Miss World 2003 in Sanya, China on December 6, 2003, where she placed 1st runner-up.[7][8]

Activism and awards

Afshin-Jam was opposed to the death penalty being applied to an 18-year-old Iranian woman, Nazanin Mahabad Fatehi, who was sentenced to hang for stabbing one of three men who tried to rape her and her niece in Karaj in March 2005.[18] Afshin-Jam started a campaign, including a petition, which attracted more than 350,000 signatures worldwide.[19] She has also dedicated her song, Someday, one of the 12 songs on her similarly titled album, Someday, to Nazanin Fatehi.[20] Eventually, with pressure from the international community, Fatehi was granted a new trial by the head of the judiciary in June, 2006. In January of the following year, Fatehi was exonerated of murder charges and was released after Afshin-Jam raised $43,000 online for bail, while her lawyers worked on her case.[21] For her efforts in helping save Fatehi, Afshin-Jam was awarded the Hero for Human Rights Award from Youth For Human Rights Internationaland Artists for Human Rights.[22][23]

Afshin-Jam initiated the Stop Child Executions Campaign and petitioned to help children on death row; the campaign was later registered as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization.[24] She co-founded the organization with David Etebari and serves as its President, with the aim of permanently ending executions of minors in Iran and abroad.[25]

She also chronicled her campaign against child executions in her memoir The Tale of Two Nazanins, co-written with Susan McClelland.[26]

Afshin-Jam also founded The Nazanin Foundation, a charitable organization that supports children and young people through education and empowerment initiatives. The foundation has provided scholarships, mentorship opportunities, and community projects aimed at advancing human rights and equal opportunity.[27]

On September 23, 2008, Afshin-Jam organized the Ahmadinejad's Wall of Shame rally at Dag Hammarskjöld park, across from the United Nations headquarters in New York, as Ahmadinejad was addressing the General Assembly.[28] Afshin-Jam received the Global Citizenship Award from the University of British Columbia's Alumni Association in November and,[29] In April of the next year, the Human Rights Hero Award from UN Watch in Geneva, Switzerland.[30] Afshin-Jam was also given the Emerging Leader Peacemaker Award by the YMCA's Power of Peace Awards.[31]

That same year, Afshin-Jam signed an open letter of apology, posted to Iranian.com, along with 266 other Iranian academics, writers, artists, and journalists, about the persecution of Baháʼís.[32] She also chaired the first annual Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy.[33]

Afshin-Jam advocated in 2012 for the closure of the Canadian embassy in Tehran.[34] Afshin-Jam received the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.[35] In 2016, she was conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, from the University of Western Ontario.[36] In 2025, Afshin-Jam returned to the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, where she highlighted the ongoing crackdown in Iran and called for international support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement.[37]

In 2023, Afshin-Jam received the King Charles III Coronation Medal from the Government of Canada in recognition of her public service.[38]

In 2025, Afshin-Jam returned to the Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy, where she highlighted the ongoing crackdown in Iran and called for international support for the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement.[39]

She is also the founder of the Iranian Justice Collective, an initiative that advocates for accountability, transitional justice, and international solidarity with Iranian protesters.[40]

Publications

  • Afshin-Jam, Nazanin; McClelland, Susan (2013). The Tale of Two Nazanins. Toronto: HarperCollins Canada. ISBN 978-1554689736. HarperCollins
  • Afshin-Jam MacKay, Nazanin (January 2025). "How to pave Iran's path to freedom – opinion". The Jerusalem Post. 16 January 2025.[41]
  • Afshin-Jam Mackay, Nazanin (June 2025). "Caught between repression and war: the Iranian people's struggle for freedom". National Post.
  • Foreword to Etebari, David (July 2025). BEYOND IDEOLOGY: The Technocratic Roadmap to a Free Iran. Amazon KDP, 2025. ISBN 979-8873863246.[42]

Film work

Afshin-Jam participated, together with eight other women's rights activists, in the documentary film Honor Diaries which explores the issues of gender-based violence and inequality in Muslim-majority societies. Her personal story was featured alongside those of the other activists, all of whom are working to combat gender prejudice that is embedded in honor-based societies.[43]

She also took on the role of 'Shaggy Chick' in Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed, where Matthew Lillard's face was attached to her body using CGI during a gag involving magic potions.[44]

Music

Afshin-Jam's debut album, Someday, was released in April 2007 by Bodog Music. The record spans several genres, including pop and world music influences. In addition to the title track, she recorded singles such as "I Dance 4 U," "I Do," and the holiday release "On Christmas Day." Proceeds from some of her music were directed to human rights causes, including the Stop Child Executions Campaign.[45]

In later years, Afshin-Jam shifted her focus primarily to human rights advocacy and writing, with Someday remaining her only full-length studio album.

Personal life

A licensed pilot, Afshin-Jam flies both powered aircraft and gliders and achieved the highest rank in the Royal Canadian Air Cadets—Warrant Officer First Class.[46] She was raised a Catholic and remains a practising one.[47][48][49]

In 2011, she earned her Master of Arts in Diplomacy from Norwich University.[50] On January 4, 2012, Afshin-Jam married Peter MacKay, then the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,[51] at a private ceremony in Mexico.[52] The couple have two sons, one named Kian, born in 2013 and another named Caledon, born in 2018[53] and one daughter named Valentia, born in 2015.[54][55]

References

  1. ^ "UBC alumni spotlight: Nazanin Afshin-Jam". University of British Columbia Alumni.
  2. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam biography". All American Speakers.
  3. ^ "Miss World 2003 Results". The Guardian. 7 December 2003.
  4. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam speaker profile". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. 2025.
  5. ^ "Peter MacKay weds Nazanin Afshin-Jam". CBC News. 4 January 2012.
  6. ^ "Peter MacKay and Nazanin Afshin-Jam welcome baby boy". CTV News. 16 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b c d e "Nazanin Afshin-Jam | EBSCO Research Starters". Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  8. ^ a b "Nazanin Afshin-Jam finishes second at Miss World 2003". Pars Times. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  9. ^ [Insert reliable source here]
  10. ^ [Insert reliable source here]
  11. ^ [Insert reliable source here]
  12. ^ [Insert official announcement or news source]
  13. ^ "King Charles III Coronation Medal". The Governor General of Canada. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  14. ^ [Insert reliable news source]
  15. ^ Gyapong, Deborah (May 2, 2012). "Beauty queen doubles as rights activist". www.catholicregister.org. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
  16. ^ a b "Peter Mackay marries Nazanin Afshin-Jam, former Miss World Canada". National Post. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  17. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam: Peter MacKay's New Wife A Woman Of Many Talents". The Huffington Post Canada. 5 January 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  18. ^ Humphreys, Adrian (January 6, 2012). "Nazanin Afshin-Jam: A model of achievement". National Post. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  19. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam tells story of girl trapped by Iran's twisted culture". National Post. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  20. ^ "MacKay fuels questions on his future — and love life". Toronto Star. 11 November 2010. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  21. ^ Smith, Charlie (February 2, 2007). "Pageant power redux: Nazanin Afshin-Jam scores a human-rights triumph". The Georgia Straight. Archived from the original on May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  22. ^ Love, Emma (August 11, 2007). "Rising star:Nazanin Afshin-Jam, campaigner". The Observer. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  23. ^ Lopez, Kathryn Jean (September 7, 2006). "United Behind Human Rights". The Cedartown Standard. Newspaper Enterprise Association. p. 4A.
  24. ^ "Stop Child Executions – Exempt Organization Business Master File". Internal Revenue Service. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  25. ^ "Canadian activist joins Iranian in campaign to stop child executions". The Globe and Mail. 2008-09-17. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  26. ^ "The Tale of Two Nazanins". HarperCollins Canada. 21 May 2013. Retrieved 2025-08-16.
  27. ^ "The Nazanin Foundation". The Nazanin Foundation.
  28. ^ "Iranian groups to stage rally in N.Y. titled 'Ahmadinejad, why do you execute children?'". Haaretz. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  29. ^ "Alumni Achievement Awards « UBC Alumni Affairs". Alumni.ubc.ca. November 29, 2011. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  30. ^ "UN Watch Congratulates Human Rights Activist Nazanin Afshin-Jam". UN Watch. 6 January 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  31. ^ http://www.danceydesign.com/pdfs/powerofpeaceprogram2009.pdf Archived 2016-08-08 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ^ "We are ashamed!". Iranian.com. February 4, 2009. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  33. ^ "Program, Sunday, April 19, 2009". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. Archived from the original on February 27, 2015. Retrieved February 28, 2015.
  34. ^ "Iran embassy report suggests little threat months before closure". cbc.ca. November 30, 2014.
  35. ^ "Afshin-Jam dedicates Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal to Nasrin Sotoudeh". Kodoom.com. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  36. ^ Western University, Department of Communications and Public Affairs (2016-06-20). "Western News - Afshin-Jam MacKay: Use your talents, blessings". Western News. Retrieved 2019-07-05.
  37. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam – Geneva Summit speaker profile". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. 2025.
  38. ^ "Recipients of Coronation Medal". Government of Canada.
  39. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam – Geneva Summit speaker profile". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. 2025.
  40. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam – Geneva Summit". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. 2025.
  41. ^ Afshin-Jam MacKay, Nazanin (16 January 2025). "How to pave Iran's path to freedom – opinion". The Jerusalem Post.
  42. ^ Etebari, David (2025). BEYOND IDEOLOGY: The Technocratic Roadmap to a Free Iran. Amazon KDP. ISBN 979-8873863246. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  43. ^ "Chicago Film Festival". Archived from the original on March 3, 2014. Retrieved February 26, 2014.
  44. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam". IMDb. Retrieved 2018-11-07.
  45. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam – Geneva Summit speaker profile". Geneva Summit for Human Rights and Democracy. 2025.
  46. ^ "Peter MacKay and Nazanin Afshin-Jam expecting a baby in new year". Toronto Sun. Canoe Sun Media. September 7, 2012. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  47. ^ "There's more to Nazanin Afshin-Jam than her beauty queen past". The Globe and Mail. 19 May 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  48. ^ "Little Miss Perfect". The Telegraph. The Daily Telegraph. 9 June 2015. Retrieved May 30, 2017.
  49. ^ Afshin-Jam MacKay, Nazanin (December 27, 2023). "Faith is a private matter, but as a Christian myself, I am not surprised that Iran has the fastest-growing church in the world". X. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
  50. ^ "Nazanin Afshin-Jam M'11 * A model global activist". Norwich Record. Norwich University. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  51. ^ "The Honourable Peter Gordon Mackay". www.pm.gc.ca. Archived from the original on May 5, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  52. ^ "Peter MacKay weds former beauty queen". CBC News. January 4, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  53. ^ "Peter MacKay and wife Nazanin welcome third child". The News. July 30, 2018. Retrieved Oct 10, 2018.
  54. ^ "Defence Minister Peter MacKay announces birth of son Kian Alexander". CTV News. April 1, 2013. Retrieved May 7, 2014.
  55. ^ "Peter MacKay and Nazanin Afshin-Jam announce birth of baby girl Valentia". The Chronicle Herald. September 30, 2015. Retrieved December 12, 2016.
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