Photo: Emilie Ng
By Peter Bugden
MILAD Jafari and Mojgan Shamsalipoor are having their first wedding anniversary this week, but they won’t be celebrating unless they hear good news from Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
The 21-year-olds were as happy as any young couple could be when they were married in Brisbane on October 13 last year.
That all changed when an Immigration Department decision tore them apart.
Mojgan was told her asylum claim had been rejected and she was transferred from a Brisbane detention centre to another in Darwin on August 7, facing possible deportation.
Mr Jafari, a refugee from Iran who is a permanent resident of Australia, and Ms Shamsalipoor, also from Iran, have been distraught since.
Brisbane Catholic Brendan Scarce, a refugee advocate, has been among those taking up their cause with Mr Dutton and other politicians as hundreds of people have rallied in Brisbane and elsewhere several times pushing for a change of heart.
Apart from the strong community support, including from Yeronga State High School where Ms Shamsalipoor had been completing Year 12, the couple has had no good news over the past two months.
The only glimmer of hope after Mr Dutton had again rejected Ms Shamsalipoor’s claim for asylum was support from Northern Territory Coalition MP Natasha Griggs.
She lobbied Mr Dutton on the couple’s behalf to persuade Mr Dutton to take another personal look at the case and consider allowing Ms Shamsalipoor to apply for a partner visa.
“We are just hoping, keep hoping that he will allow us to do that,” Mr Jafari said.
“It will be a life-changing decision for us.
“I’m hoping to get her good news on that as a gift (for our anniversary).”
Mr Jafari, after spending time in Darwin visiting his wife, is back in Brisbane doing security work with Australian Catholic University.
“There’s not much talking about my wife, and I’m very scared,” he said.
“Mojgan is getting depressed and I’m so worried about her.
“She hasn’t eaten for a few days.
“Both of us are going through tough times.”
Mr Jafari will speak at Stand Up For Refugees Rally in Brisbane Square (top of Queen Street Mall) today (October 11) at 1pm.
