Zavosh Mottahedeh was born in Tehran, Iran, and raised as a Muslim. His high school studies in Astronomy and Astrophysics contributed significantly to his journey in critically examining his beliefs, ultimately leading him to embrace atheism at 16—a conviction he kept private due to the risks posed by Iran’s restrictive environment. Zavosh went on to study Computer Engineering at Sharif University of Technology in Iran. After moving to the United States to pursue a Master’s degree in Computer Science at Stony Brook University, he felt free to openly express his rejection of Islam and God.

In 2022, Zavosh joined Atheists for Liberty and later became one of New York’s official Campus Ambassadors, actively supporting secularism and promoting critical thinking. During his tenure as President of the Iranian Graduate Student Association at Stony Brook University (2022-2023), Zavosh organized educational events highlighting the human rights abuses of the Islamic regime in Iran, especially amid the Woman, Life, Freedom uprising. His leadership earned the association the “Campus Community Impact Award” and the “Educational Program Award” for its contributions to public awareness. He also mobilized the Iranian community to participate in solidarity events for the uprising, including rallies in New York City and Washington, D.C.

Committed to bridging communities, Zavosh fostered positive relations between the Iranian and Israeli communities on campus, countering the divisive rhetoric often propagated by the Islamic regime. He joined the CLARITy Coalition to continue advancing liberty and secular values, addressing the global threat posed by Islamism and advocating for human rights, freedom of conscience, and critical inquiry.