In a heartbreaking case that has gripped the Queensland community, the family of a young mother allegedly murdered in her Springfield Lakes home is urgently seeking federal government assistance to bring her mother to Australia to care for her two young sons.
Muzhda Habibi, 23, was found unresponsive by emergency services at her Ipswich residence on May 16, 2025, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her husband, Masihullah Habibi, 26, and his brother, Khalilullah Habibi, 28, have been charged with her murder, leaving their two boys, aged three and four, without parents.
The boys’ grandmother, currently a permanent resident in the United Kingdom, is desperate to reunite with her grandsons to provide them with the love and stability they need during this tragic time.
However, navigating Australia’s immigration system has proven challenging, prompting advocates and the family to call for expedited government action.
Rita Anwari, a prominent Afghan-Australian women’s advocate representing the family, has been vocal in her fight to bring the grandmother to Australia. Speaking outside Ipswich Magistrates Court on June 25, 2025, Anwari emphasised the urgency of the situation.
“These boys have been without their family for over a month now,” she said. “They’ve lost their mum and dad, and they need their grandmother here to care for them. We’re asking the federal government and the Department of Child Safety to fast-track this process.”
The family’s plight is compounded by bureaucratic hurdles. The grandmother’s status as a permanent resident in the UK, rather than a citizen, has complicated her visa application, as her Afghan documentation adds further layers of complexity.
Immigration lawyers are assisting the family, but Anwari stressed that government intervention is critical to ensure the boys are not left in limbo. “These kids have been through enough,” she said. “They need their family, not strangers, to help them heal.”
Muzhda Habibi’s story has struck a chord with the local community. Originally from Afghanistan, she had moved to Australia in 2021 with dreams of a better life for herself and her children.
According to Anwari, Muzhda had been studying English at TAFE and hoped to see her sons grow up with opportunities she was denied in Afghanistan, where women face severe restrictions on education and work.
Tragically, her aspirations were cut short. Reports suggest Muzhda had been unhappy in her marriage and was seeking a divorce, a decision that reportedly caused tension with her husband. On the day of her death, she sent a voice message to her sister in Afghanistan, expressing her distress, with her husband’s voice audible in the background.
The boys, who primarily speak Farsi and have limited English, have been in the care of strangers since their mother’s death. The community has rallied around them, with local Afghan-Australians planning a memorial for Muzhda in Springfield Central Parklands.
Queensland Minister for Women Fiona Simpson described the loss as “profound and immeasurable,” noting Muzhda’s role as a cherished daughter, sister, and mother.
The legal case against Masihullah and Khalilullah Habibi continues, with their matter adjourned until July 9, 2025, and a brief of evidence requested for August 20. Meanwhile, the family’s focus remains on securing a future for the boys.
A Department of Home Affairs spokesperson stated that visa applicants with compelling circumstances should provide details at the time of application, but could not comment on individual cases.
Anwari remains resolute in her advocacy. “I won’t stop until these boys are with their grandmother,” she said. “They deserve to grow up with family who love them, in a safe and supportive environment.” The community waits in hope that the federal government will act swiftly to reunite this grieving family.
Why can’t the children be sent to England? We have more than enough of those people here in Australia