Studied History at Simon Fraser University (SFU) and led a successful hunger strike that divested SFU from all fossil fuels.

Opposed TMX pipeline and the logging of old-growth forests in British Columbia.

Zain and Sophia met as colleagues working to stop ecosystem destruction in British Columbia, Canada, where some of the last and oldest forests exist (for now).

Sophia and Zain were separated when Canada allowed Zain's deportation, despite having public and community support and previous Ministerial intervention stopping his removal the first time!