The Rezaie family arrived at AIRE in October 2024. Until 2021, they had a comfortable life in Afghanistan, where Qurban worked for the Ministry of Peace in the country. He was engaged to Sakineh, who had just finished her studies and had started working as a teacher. However, with the Taliban’s takeover, Qurban not only lost his job but also began to receive threats for being a former employee of the old government. His wife was forbidden from working and studying, and they found themselves without income, fearing for their lives.
They then decided to go to Iran and apply for a humanitarian visa to come to Brazil (one of the few countries that offers this type of visa for Afghans). When we asked what they hoped to find when they arrived here, Qurban said they were looking for a place that would accept them without discrimination, where they could start over and rebuild their lives. The words “peace” and “justice” come up often during the conversation, and it’s impossible not to imagine how much the family suffered before stepping onto Brazilian soil, hoping to find a new home.
Today, they have a one-year-old daughter and hope to provide her with a future full of opportunities, where she can study, play sports, or dedicate herself to any activity she desires. This is very different from what it would be if they were still in their home country, where girls can’t even go to school.
They still have a long way to go to build a life in Brazil, starting with learning Portuguese, which is very different from their native language. But they are already very grateful for the kindness and care they have received here. Qurban hopes to continue fighting for a world without wars and violence, where solidarity and empathy prevail.
