Yasmine Taeb

Yasmine Taeb is an American human rights attorney and Democratic National Committee official. She is a senior policy counsel at the Center for Victims of Torture (CVT). On 20 September 2018, she announced she would be challenging Virginia Senate Minority Leader [...] Saslaw in the state’s June Democratic primary.

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.

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.

Political career

In 2014, Taeb ran for Virginia’s 48th House of Delegates seat. At an event organised by the National Iranian American Council, Taeb stated she considers herself a "lifelong activist" and emphasised the necessity of Iranians' direct engagement in civic life. Taeb began working as a lawyer at the Center for Victims of Torture.

Taeb was critical of the nomination of Gina Haspel to head of 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 this nomination. Taeb criticised DNC Chairman Tom Perez’s endorsement of Andrew Cuomo, arguing it would not reflect well on the Democratic National Committee. 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.

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

On 20 September 2018, Taeb announced she would be challenging Virginia Senate Minority Leader [...] Saslaw in the state’s June Democratic primary.

Private life

Taeb is an observant Muslim.