Love Across Borders: Couple's Journey Amidst War and Immigration Struggles

After losing his brother in 2020, Mohammad 'Mo' Mohammadi wanted to honor his memory with a portrait. That's when he stumbled upon Iran-based artist Fereshteh Ahmadi on Instagram. What started as a simple message led to a love story shaped by distance, war, and agonizing immigration struggles.

Mo's journey with Fereshteh began when he reached out to her on Instagram, and she shared the news with her father. In a surprising turn of events, it turned out they were from the same village in Afghanistan, and their families had been neighbors. Both were Afghan refugees who had ended up in Iran; Fereshteh's father had fled there many years before, and Mo had moved to Iran with his uncle as a young child.

Throughout 2021, Mo and Fereshteh spoke on Instagram and quickly became friends. Mo says he 'just knew' when he met Fereshteh in person. Fereshteh offered to send the artwork she'd drawn of Mo's brother to him in Australia, where he had relocated in 2010. Mo was already planning to visit Iran the following year and wanted to collect it from her in person.

When they met in real life, Mo could instantly feel she was a really nice person. Soon after that first meeting, they decided to get engaged. They had a little party with their families and got their marriage certificate from the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tehran in 2022. Five weeks later, Mo had to return to Australia for work.

They were hoping to get a visa for Fereshteh to join him, but because she's an Afghan refugee in Iran, it's difficult for her to get the paperwork she needs. Mo dreams of the day he and Fereshteh will be able to go out for dinner together, away for holidays — 'even going camping'.

'I had no idea when we would see each other again, so a few years ago, I asked Fereshteh to send me some of her artworks in the mail. I didn't tell her what I wanted them for, but I submitted them to a local art gallery in Bordertown, South Australia, where I now live. They all sold. People really loved them, and even asked for commissioned works. Fereshteh was really excited about all the support and used the money to purchase new art supplies.'

It's been almost three years now since they last saw each other in person. They miss each other a lot, and they're really just at the start of their relationship. Mo was planning to visit Fereshteh earlier this year, but the week before he was due to depart, Israel and the US attacked Iran. His flight was cancelled, and he could not go. When the conflict started, he lost contact with Fereshteh for nearly two months.

'No phone calls, no text messages, no nothing. I had no idea where Fereshteh and her family were, or what they were going to do. It was really hard. I was always thinking about her and what was going to happen. Were they going to get bombed? Were the missiles going to drop directly where they were?'

Once the internet was restored, Fereshteh and her family texted Mo saying they were OK. He was really, really happy to hear that they were safe, at least. There was nothing he could do, because there were no flights, and everything was closed.

Thankfully, Mo and Fereshteh can speak often now, but the internet is very poor, and they cannot video call. Still, at least they can talk. She's alright, and her family's alright.

Mo's dream is to meet Fereshteh back in Iran so they can do the ceremony and celebrate with their families, before returning to Australia. Then they can finally build their lives together, and hopefully have children some day. He hopes that she continues with her art when she arrives in Australia, but he'll support her with whatever she wants to be or become.

'She might want to study, or maybe even teach her own art class. In Australia, she'll have the freedom to do that. In Iran, she can't study or go to university. She can't work, and she can't even sell her artworks. It's too difficult, especially with the conflict happening now.'

Mo has bought a house in Bordertown, and it's like home to him, so he hopes she'll like it there too. He can't wait to be together again, going out for dinner, going for holidays — even going camping.