Our Story
Unite for Freedom, Resist Extremism
At Lotus Advocacy (LA), we are committed to the belief that freedom, democracy, and secular governance are fundamental rights of every individual and nation. In pursuit of this, our core aims and objectives are centred around two key principles:
•To exert maximum pressure on non-democratic authorities responsible for oppression, human rights violations, and the suppression of civic freedoms.
•To provide unwavering support to democratic movements, activists, civil society organisations, and human rights defenders working courageously for positive, lasting change.
We firmly advocate for non-military, peaceful, and people-driven strategies to confront authoritarian regimes and extremist ideologies. Our approach is rooted in the belief that the most sustainable and impactful path toward freedom and justice is achieved through civic resistance, international advocacy, policy engagement, and public awareness.
Through our work, we aim to:
•Hold oppressive governments accountable for their actions on the international stage.
•Empower democratic movements and dissidents by amplifying their voices and providing platforms for their message.
•Promote secularism and protect universal human rights, irrespective of race, religion, gender, or political belief.
•Combat extremism, antisemitism, and intolerance within the UK, Europe, and globally, working towards communities built on mutual respect and equality.
•Foster international cooperation and solidarity with freedom-seeking nations and communities around the world.
Our ultimate objective is to pave a clear, achievable path toward freedom, democracy, and secular governance — not only for Iran but for any society where injustice and authoritarianism prevail.
Gio Esfandiary
He is a human rights activist, documentary filmmaker, and advocate against terrorism and anti-Semitism. Since the Women, Life, Freedom revolution, he has been at the forefront of the fight against the Islamic Republic’s oppression, fearlessly challenging extremism and advocating for democracy. In the wake of the October 7 attacks, he has played a critical role in confronting rising anti-Semitism in the UK. With a background in finance and an MBA, Gio combines strategic expertise with powerful storytelling to expose human rights violations and amplify the voices of the oppressed.
Dr. Shiva Shabanian
Expert in Civil Society Mobilization, Democratic Engagement, and Transnational Advocacy
She is an experienced civic organizer and advisor with a strong record of strategic coordination across European institutions, particularly in Austria and (DACH region).
Her work spans political sponsorship campaigns, public demonstrations, human rights initiatives, and cross-party dialogue. She has successfully led engagements with members of national parliaments, municipal governments, and civil society networks on matters related to civil liberties, political expression, and diaspora activism.
She has co-founded and directed independent media platforms and policy dialogue centers, including initiatives focused on digital security, public diplomacy, and countering authoritarian influence. Fluent in several languages and familiar with European parliamentary frameworks, she has contributed to legislative awareness on disinformation, cyber operations, and political repression.
She continues to advise on civic resilience strategies, diaspora-led policy engagement, and human rights monitoring across transnational contexts.
Ravi Ladva
Writer, Researcher, and Policy Advocate
Ravi Ladva is dedicated to exploring the intersections of history, business, and culture, with a particular emphasis on India’s global contributions. He highlights how India’s legacy in trade, philosophy, and innovation continues to shape modern enterprise and leadership. Passionate about drawing lessons from history, he advocates for ethical business practices, cultural intelligence, and cross-border collaboration. Ravi also supports initiatives that advance human rights and dignity, believing that prosperity must be paired with justice. He engages with business and cultural networks to foster dialogue, accountability, and entrepreneurship rooted in values, while championing stronger connections between tradition and modernity.
Fariba Karimi
Iranian artist and political activist based in Italy.
Since the beginning of the Women, Life, Freedom movement, she has dedicated her work to supporting the Iranian people—especially women—and amplifying their voices on the international stage.
Through her art and activism, Fariba stands against oppression and inequality, advocating for freedom, justice, and human rights in Iran.
Magda Lauran
Research and executive assistant
Magda Lauran has dedicated her work to bringing awareness about human-rights violations in the Middle East with specific attention to human-rights atrocities committed in Iran by Islamic Republic of Iran, the rise of antisemitism and anti-Western propaganda propagated by the regime and implemented widely abroad. Her work focuses on studying antisemitism, extremism and impact of transnational repression on diasporas in the West.
Magda supports initiatives built on dialogue and lifelong learning which should be catalysts of democratic societies. She has been liaising with different organisations and activists who stand for freedom for people across the globe.
Jonathan Harounoff
Jonathan Harounoff is an award-winning journalist, author, and currently serves as Israel’s international spokesperson to the United Nations. A leading commentator on Iran, Israel, and the Middle East, his writing and analysis have appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, Newsweek, Haaretz, The Jerusalem Post, and The Jewish Chronicle, and he is a frequent guest on international television and radio.
Before entering public diplomacy, he worked in senior communications roles at the Fortune 500 company XPO Logistics and later as Director of Communications at a Washington-based foreign policy think tank. He is also the founder and CEO of Noff Media, a strategic communications consultancy.
Jonathan is the author of Unveiled: Inside Iran’s #WomanLifeFreedom Revolt, a book that examines the historic protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini and the broader struggle for freedom inside Iran. His work draws on interviews with activists, dissidents, and members of the Iranian diaspora to illuminate the human story behind one of the most significant protest movements in the modern Middle East.
He holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in Middle Eastern history, journalism, international relations and diplomacy from Cambridge University, Harvard and Columbia.
Our Team
Gio Esfandiary
Human rights activist, documentary filmmaker, and advocate against terrorism and anti-Semitism
Dr. Shiva Shabanian
Society Mobilization, Democratic Engagement, and Transnational Advocacy
Ravi Ladva
Writer, Researcher, and Policy Advocate
Fariba Karimi
Artist and political activis
Magda Lauran
Research and Executive Assistant
Jonathan Harounoff
Israel’s International Spokesperson to the UN, award-winning author and Board Member of Lotus Advocacy