Afghan refugee couple separated by war after finding love through art
Mo and Fereshteh from the same Afghan village married in 2022 but remain separated by visa rules and Iran's recent conflict.
Mo, who now lives in Bordertown, South Australia, reached out to Iranian artist Fereshteh on Instagram in 2021 to commission a portrait of his late brother. Mo and Fereshteh discovered they were from the same Afghan village and their families had been neighbours.
Romance developed and they married in 2022. Fereshteh is an Afghan refugee in Iran without citizenship, so she could not get a visa to join Mo in Australia.
This year, fighting between Israel and Iran cut off contact for nearly two months-no calls, texts or internet. Mo had no idea where Fereshteh was or what would happen.
When contact returned, Fereshteh confirmed her family was safe. Her artwork has sold in a South Australian gallery, but the couple remains separated by distance and Australia's visa rules.
- 2022
- Marriage year
- nearly two months
- Contact loss duration
- Bordertown, South Australia
- Mo's location
- 2021
- Initial contact year
Why it mattersTheir story shows how visa rules and geopolitical conflict can tear apart families who have already fled their home country once.
AustraliaAfghan refugees in Australia face ongoing family separation due to visa policies that restrict partners of people without permanent status from joining them.
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