Yasmine Taeb

Yasmine P. Taeb (Persian: یاسمین طائب) is an Iranian-American human rights attorney and Democratic National Committee official. She is a senior policy counsel at the Center for Victims of Torture. In 2014 she sought the Democratic nomination for election to the Virginia House of Delegates in the 48th district; after moving to the district to run, she challenged Virginia Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw in the June 2019 Democratic primary for the 35th district,[1][2][3] but came in second place.[4][5]

Early life and education

At the age of six, Taeb, along with her mother and three siblings, fled Iran during the Iran-Iraq War, seeking refuge in the United States.[6] According to her campaign video, she entered the United States via a hole in a wire fence on the U.S.-Mexico border undocumented and was “caught by U.S. authorities.” [7] She was raised in Florida, where she attended Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.[1]

Taeb received a B.A. in political science from the University of Florida and a Graduate Certificate in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University. She holds a J.D. from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law.[8]

Political career

Taeb is a senior policy counsel at the Center for Victims of Torture.[2]

In 2014, she was one of seven candidates for the Democratic nomination in the special election to succeed Bob Brink as representative of the 48th district in the Virginia House of Delegates.[9] At an event organised by the National Iranian American Council, she stated she considers herself a "lifelong activist" and emphasized the necessity of Iranians' engaging directly in civic life.[10]

She attended the 2016 Democratic National Convention as a delegate for Bernie Sanders.[11]

Taeb was critical of the nomination of Gina Haspel to head the Central Intelligence Agency, stating that Haspel was "personally responsible for the near-total secrecy that continues to shroud her background" and that senators did not have access to sufficient information to make an informed decision on the nomination.[12][13] Taeb criticised DNC Chairman Tom Perez's endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, arguing it would not reflect well on the Democratic National Committee.[14] According to Taeb, the DNC should not only be inclusive to people of different races and backgrounds, but should also allow members to be diverse in thoughts and ideas.[15]

Taeb, who has led research into anti-Islamic sentiment for the Center for American Progress,[16] was opposed to Executive Order 13780, claiming that it was a policy centered on "advancing a white nationalist agenda".[17]

On September 20, 2018, after moving from Arlington to Falls Church, Taeb announced she would be challenging Virginia Senate Minority Leader Dick Saslaw for the 35th district in the state's June Democratic primary.[1][2][3] She came in second place, with approximately 46% of the vote to Saslaw's 49%.[4][5]

Private life

Taeb is a practicing Muslim.[2]

References
  1. Dupuy, Andrew (2019-02-19). "A powerful Democrat faces off with a progressive challenger in Virginia's Senate District 35". Great Greater Washington. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  2. Marans, Daniel (2018-09-20). "Human Rights Attorney Yasmine Taeb To Challenge Top Virginia Democrat". Huffington Post. Retrieved 12 October 2018.
  3. Benton, Nicholas F. (2018-09-20). "Yasmine Taeb, New Resident of Falls Church, Announces 2019 State Senate Primary Run Vs. Saslaw". Falls Church News-Press. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  4. "2019 June Democratic Primary". results.elections.virginia.gov. Virginia Department of Elections.
  5. Gabriel, Trip; Lee, Jasmine C. (11 June 2019). "Virginia Primary Election Results". The New York Times.
  6. Taeb, Yasmine (2018-01-26). "Trump's Muslim ban — one year old and still discriminatory". The Hill.
  7. Yasmine for Virginia (2018-09-20), Run., retrieved 2019-04-03
  8. "Yasmine Taeb". Center for Victims of Torture. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  9. McCaffrey, Scott (2014-07-07). "Sullivan emerges winner in 48th District Democratic caucus". Inside NoVa. Retrieved February 23, 2019.
  10. Shaik, Nishaat (2014-07-03). "Yasmine Taeb Seeks to Bring Iranian-American Perspective to Virginia House of Delegates". NIAC.
  11. Laughlin, Alex (2016-07-28). "A day in the life of a delegate whose candidate didn't win". The Washington Post. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  12. Karas, Tania (2018-05-15). "Senators 'kept in the dark' as CIA director vote draws near". Public Radio International. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
  13. Scahill, Jeremy (2018-05-17). "US Navy Reserve Doctor on Gina Haspel Torture Victim". The Intercept.
  14. Marans, Daniel (2018-05-30). "Party Chairman Tom Perez Faces Criticism Inside DNC For Endorsing Andrew Cuomo". Huffington Post.
  15. Marans, Daniel. "Progressives' Anger Over Key Committee Appointments Roils Democratic Party Meeting". Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  16. "A year in the US: Social turmoil, violence and historic change". Deutsche Welle. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
  17. Salem, Ola (2018-06-26). "'A real human cost': American Muslims decry travel ban". Aljazeera.
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