Nearly two months after the alleged murder of young mother Muzhda Habibi in her Springfield Lakes home, the Afghan-Australian and wider Queensland community continue to rally in her memory—determined to ensure she is never forgotten, and that her two young sons are given the future she dreamt of.
Read: Brothers Charged in Springfield Lakes Domestic Violence Murder
Muzhda, 23, was found unresponsive in her Ipswich residence on May 16, and tragically died at the scene. Her husband, Masihullah Habibi, 26, and his brother, Khalilullah Habibi, 28, have been charged with her murder. As the legal case progresses through the courts, her two boys, aged three and four, remain in foster care.
Now, a GoFundMe fundraiser launched by community advocates aims to support Muzhda’s funeral and secure a better future for her children. The campaign reflects the outpouring of grief and solidarity from those who knew her story—and those who didn’t, but were moved by it.
“Funds here will go towards Muzhda’s funeral,” the fundraiser page states. “Anything raised beyond that will be committed to her two young sons.”
Organisers say they are committed to three goals:
- Supporting Muzhda’s family in the United Kingdom to gain guardianship of her children;
- Preventing the boys from being sent to Kabul, Afghanistan, where they could face life under Taliban control;
- Advocating for long-term, meaningful action to end violence against women.
At the heart of the campaign is a desire to protect and uplift the two young boys, who speak mainly Farsi and have limited English. Since their mother’s death, they have been cared for by strangers while their maternal grandmother, currently based in the UK, navigates complex immigration hurdles to join them in Australia.
Rita Anwari, a prominent Afghan-Australian advocate and founder of Women Empowerment and Leadership, said the community would not rest until the children are reunited with their grandmother and placed in a safe, loving home.
Muzhda Habibi, who arrived in Australia from Afghanistan in 2021, had been studying English at TAFE and was determined to build a future for her sons that offered the education and freedoms she had been denied back home.
Her death has sparked heartbreak and outrage in the Afghan diaspora, with many pointing to the broader issue of domestic and gender-based violence. A memorial was recently held at Springfield Central Parklands, where community members shared prayers, stories, and renewed calls for stronger protections for women, particularly those from migrant backgrounds.
Read: Ipswich Grapples With Stubborn Crime Rates Amid Improvement Efforts
Meanwhile, the legal matter against the two accused has been adjourned, with a brief of evidence expected in August.
For now, the focus for many remains on ensuring Muzhda’s children are cared for and that her name lives on, not as a headline, but as a reminder of why community, compassion and justice matter.
Published 10-July-2025
