Masud Gharahkhani and his family came to Norway in 1987 as refugees from Iran. Representing the Labour Party, he served on the Buskerud County Council and the Drammen Municipal Council and was the Labour Party candidate for mayor of Drammen in two municipal elections. Gharahkhani was elected to the Storting (the Norwegian parliament) in 2017 and was elected president of the Storting in 2021. Gharahkhani has long advocated for minority rights and democracy and is a strong critic of all forms of misogyny and discrimination against women.