KurdistanObserver.com

Kurdish Immigrant Killed At The Front Door In Sydney

The Advertiser - Australia 

Australia, Sydney, Feb 27, - More than six years ago, Masoud Faroughi and his wife Amineh moved from Iran to Australia to start a new life.

Not long after they arrived their only child, a son, was born and they built a two-story mansion in Kellyville.

The Kurdish couple made plenty of friends in the area and Mr Faroughi, who has a PhD in science, found part-time lecturing work at the University of Western Sydney, supplemented by working as a taxi driver.

Amineh worked from home as a beautician and as their son grew older, he would often play with other children who lived in the street.

So when Mr Faroughi's taxi was firebombed in October, 2005 his neighbours were perplexed.

His execution - in the doorway of his home on Saturday evening - has left them stunned.

Mr Faroughi, 37, was gunned down after opening the front door of his Patya Circuit home at 8.15pm. His wife and son were at home at the time.

Ambulance officers attempted to revive him but he died at the scene.

Police said yesterday that no clear motive had been established but they were pursuing two men, who were last seen fleeing the street in a blue and metallic silver four-wheel drive.

The home was abandoned yesterday as Amineh took comfort at a family member's house.

One neighbour said the whole street was in shock.

"No one in the street would have a bad word to say about them nor would they have expected anything like this," she said.

"It is always quiet here. We were shocked when his car was a blaze of fire last year and we are in complete shock now.

"He was such a hard-working man. I remember one day recently when it was 35 degrees and we all retreated inside but he continued to clean the windows of the house, prune the roses and mow the lawn. He was very house proud."