Their love story has become famous among the Hazara community.
While most marriages taking place around them were arranged, Mohammad Azad and his wife Kaniz were allowed to marry for love. And their relationship has survived every obstacle that has come their way.
Both living and working in Afghanistan they were introduced by a friend. Their love quickly grew and soon the two were building a life together. They married, had a child and looked towards their future.
But violence and the threat of death meant they had to go separate ways.
Separation
Mohammad says he had no choice but to flee Afghanistan.
Having worked as an interpreter and security guard for the coalition forces his life was in danger.
He first fled to Pakistan with Kaniz and his family, believing he would be safer there as his past was unknown. After two targeted attacks he realised this was not to be the case.
Mohammad then decided to make the dangerous journey by boat to Australia, with hopes of one day reuniting with his family in Australia. He began the treacherous trip on Kaniz’s birthday.
A new life apart
Mohammed spent a few months in detention on Christmas Island before he was settled in Queensland and eventually Rockhampton.
In total he and Kaniz spent four years apart.
During this period he was able to make two trips back to Pakistan, the rest of the time their love was sustained by telephone calls and skype chats.
Mohammed describes it as an extremely worrying time, knowing his wife was living in a “no go zone” that was under constant attack by extremists.
“I always was worried about my family, about [the] wellbeing of my family, about [the] safety of my family and thinking what's going to happen and do I get a chance to get united again? Can I bring them to safety again?,” he says.
“I was … thinking what can I do for them to make sure that they're alive, we get united and they get out of those dangerous situations.”
“I was frustrated. To us living without husband, without support, it is extremely hard.”
The situation also took a toll on Kaniz, who was afraid to leave her house for fear of being killed.
“Sometimes I thought I probably never … see my husband again, and I was afraid that I will die here because the life is not safe there,” she says.
“So you are not sure that you will be alive another day.”
The lengthy visa delays also created a strain on the relationship.
“She was thinking that I'm lazy and I'm not working on the application process or that, like just because of me the application is taking so long,” Mohammad explains.
“I was frustrated. To us living without husband, without support, it is extremely hard.”
Reunited
Eventually the pair, and their children, were reunited in Rockhampton.
Despite the distance that had been between them, and the strain on the relationship, Mohammad says his love for Kaniz never wavered.
“She's not just my wife, she's my best friend, she's my love, my life, she's even my hairdresser as well,” he said.
"I always loved her and I always was hoping that we get reunited. So when I see her I want to stand in front of her like a man [and say] ‘I didn't have any other relationship and it was just you’.”
Now when the younger generation seek permission from elders to marry the one they love, they are told to look to Mohammad and Kaniz as an example of true love.
