BARIZ SHAH 

World of Words

PERFORMANCES

Bariz Shah’s whakapapa traces back to Afghanistan, yet he was born in Pakistan as an Afghan refugee before arriving in New Zealand in 2001. The attack on Muslim identity post 9/11 led him down a destructive path, culminating in prison at just 18. It was inside that Bariz discovered the power of discipline and faith, sparking a life-changing transformation. Years later, he became the President of the Muslim Students Association at the University of Canterbury when community members were killed in the terrorist attacks of March 15. Embracing negative energy and using it as fuel for positive change, Bariz and his wife, Saba, raised funds and established 51 micro-businesses in Afghanistan to honour the martyrs. His extraordinary journey of redemption and resilience earned him local and national recognition, including the Christchurch Civic Award and Muslim New Zealander of the Year. His memoir, Beyond Hope, shares the inspiring story of this incredible transformation.

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