In Honour of Zahra
Zahra migrated to Australia with her husband and children in 1997. She left her family and friends behind with great hope for a better life for her family. The restrictions of being in an abusive and controlled marriage limited Zahra from living the full life that she had hoped for. Despite all this, she embraced the opportunities in Australia.
Zahra endured much pain and abuse throughout her marriage. However, she remained positive, strong and never lost hope. Zahra’s strengths were her great sense of humour and commitment to family. She was a caring mother devoted to her children. She fiercely protected her children from threats and abuse by her husband.
In 2009, Zahra took the brave steps to leave the family home with her children and were assisted by the Central Domestic Violence Services. Zahra and her children stayed in hiding in order to keep themselves safe. As a mother her strength never wavered even though the threats continued to haunt her and her children. However, this did not affect her attitude, approach and willingness to continue to rebuild her life.
On 21 March 2010, Zahra attended the Persian New Year function at the Adelaide Convention Centre, to celebrate this cultural event and her 44th birthday. This celebration was cut short when her husband took her life in front of 300 witnesses.
Her legacy lives on through the commitment of her children and the establishment of The Zahra Foundation.
Zahra Foundation Australia was officially launched on the 5th of September 2015, at the Adelaide Convention Centre as a way of reclaiming the space for Zahra and her family.
“Survivors of domestic abuse shouldn’t have to live in fear - having to choose between an abusive environment or to live in poverty. 14 years ago, when we left our family home we became isolated, we became homeless and we faced poverty. And no woman, no family, no child should be in a position like that.”
- Arman Abrahimzadeh, Zahra’s Son
The Zahra Foundation Brand
The dawn of a new day brings hope and new beginnings, it is when the lotus flower blooms.
Lotus flowers grow towards the sun and emerge from dark, cold, murky waters.
A symbol of Zahra being the light that provides hope and empowers survivors to find pathways to independence and build a life free from poverty and abuse. Zahra brings women into a circle of a supportive and non-judgemental community where they can find the strength to take the next steps in their recovery journey.