Bring Rohullah's family to Australia

Most of you know the story of Emma and Rohullah.

Rohullah is Hazara. In 2017, he fled Afghanistan by foot and made his way to Greece. In 2019, Rohullah met Emma when they were both volunteering for a legal aid organisation in Lesvos, Greece.

They fell in love and decided to give long distance a go. During covid and Australia’s strict border closures, Emma ventured back to Greece in 2021 to see him. After a long fought battle, Rohullah was granted a partner visa to come to Australia in December 2021.

Against the odds they were married last year and managed to raise $8000 from generous donations at their wedding towards this cause.

Rohullah comes from a big, close family of 9 siblings who raised him. They have been separated for the last 15 years. Some of his siblings have managed to seek asylum in Europe. However, some of his siblings have not yet made it to safety. Rohullah's sister Masoma is still in Afghanistan and his brother Qasem and sisters Aziza and Zeinab are in Iran.

In Afghanistan, Hazaras are persecuted. They are targeted by the Taliban and Afghani ISIS. They are suffering forced evictions, extortions and bomb attacks.

Masoma is waiting to be issued identity documents to flee the country. Her daughters have been banned from going to school and she is unable to travel outside her village without a male escort. Masoma is sick and can’t get medical treatment because as a Hazara person it is dangerous to travel to cities where she can access the treatments she needs. Under Taliban rule Hazara people travelling on roads between cities are being killed. The humanitarian situation in Afghanistan is dire. Masoma relies on her family living abroad to feed herself and her children.

Rohullah also has a brother Qasem living in Iran. He fled Afghanistan when he was a child and never returned. Qasem lives in Iran with his wife and 4 kids including his 15 and 13 year old daughters as refugees. The situation in Iran has deteriorated and his wife and daughters are in danger. His daughters were recently targeted in a chemical attack at their girls school. They are ok but were hospitalised following the attack.

Emma and Rohullah are wanting to sponsor his siblings to bring them to Australia on refugee and humanitarian visas.

These visas are expensive because you have to pay a community organisation to sponsor them when they arrive.

Emma and Rohullah are desperately saving themselves to provide financial support for these two families to come to Australia. However the costs are extreme and will probably amount to $60 000 – 70 000 AUD.

To raise money Rohullah and his two amazing friends Cath and Cait will be running in the very challenging and hilly Brooks half marathon in May this year

Any amount you can offer to contribute towards a new life for Rohullah’s brother and sister and their children and so that Rohullah and his family can finally be reunited will make a difference.