Najaf MazariNajaf Mazari was born in 1971 in a small village near Mazar-e-Sharif in northern Afghanistan. At the age of 12, he left school and apprenticed himself to a master rugmaker. Thus began his love affair with rugs! He fled Afghanistan in 2000, ending up n Woomera Detention Centre. After his release, he settled in Melbourne, Australia, where he now owns a rug shop, selling traditional Afghan rugs. His wife and daughter were finally given permission by the Australian government to join him in 2006 after a 6-year separation. In April 2007, he was granted Australian citizenship. He is a sought-after speaker at schools, literary festivals, community and church groups, and to numerous business groups and non-profit organisations. He founded a philanthropic fund - AusGhan Aid - that supplies health and education aid to remote villages in the mountains outside Mazar-e-Sharif. Read More Read Less