Playing Call of Duty took to a love game that Morgan Gardner never waited.
When he started playing the game online in 2020, known as a violent shooting contest in the first person, he did not believe he would meet his future husband.
Or that would be half a world of distance in Iran.
But a friendship that was caused online became a romance that became a marriage between Gardner, a blonde girl from Alabama with blue eyes, and Ribvar Karimi, 26, a sniper of the Iranian army who moved to the United States to be with her, and was arrested this weekend as the United States War with Tehran.
‘I never thought I was going to meet someone that way. I never thought I would marry someone from another country, «Gardner told Daily Mail.
Now the newly married are being tested.
Karimi was arrested by American immigration officials during the weekend along with another 10 as part of what ICE called his «commitment to support the known and presumed terrorists of US communities.»
His wife, who has seven months pregnant, believes that he was unfairly attacked as US relations with Iran continue to fracture.
Immigration and Customs Control Agents (ICE) arrived at their home at an hour outside Birmingham, claiming that it was no longer legally in the country because it had lost a deadline to present documents for its promised visa, which allowed legal entry to the country in October.
In his announcement of his arrest, ICE also pointed out Karimi’s service as a sniper in the Iranian army from 2018 to 2021, an ominous fact, given Trump’s continuous warnings about sleeping terrorism cells that are presented to attack the United States at any given time.
Gardner, 30, insists that any suggestion of her husband is dangerous is «ridiculous.»
Ribvar Karimi, 26, from Iran and Morgan Gardner of Alabama, 30, met in 2020 while playing in line of Call of Duty, he told Daily Mail
On June 22, Ice Atlanta arrested Ribvar Karimi in Locust Forks, Alabama. According to reports, Karimi served as an Iranian army sniper from 2018 to 2021
I am disconsolate. This man uses the American flag with pride in everything he owns. I know that many people have stereotypes about people in the Middle East, and unfortunately that is what happened to them.
She said that the first thing she bought when she got off the plane was an American flag, and questioned why she would do it when she would kill him in Iran.
The couple revealed their participation in the army in their visa application and he underwent additional investigation due to their country of military origin and service, he said.
‘We never hid it from them. We gave him his military card in his interview. We gave them the card when they appeared to our house on Sunday. We thought it was better to be honest because we have nothing to hide.
Gardner also declared that military service is mandatory in Iran, and that it is Kurdo, an ethnic group in Iran that is often persecuted by the Iranian government.
The Kurds tend to be Sunni Muslims in a mostly Shiite country.
‘He is not a terrorist, he is not part of a terrorist organization. He loves this country. He fought against ISIS.
«For the love of God, her boyfriend’s cake at our wedding was an American flag with bullets that says:» We people. «I was very happy for small freedoms, such as being able to wear shorts, because even men cannot do that in Iran ‘.
The couple found love online while he kept serving in the army.
We were on the same team during a game. We liked playing so much together that we would always invite ourselves to play if we saw each other online, ‘explained the girlfriend of her Call of Duty courtship.
Online meetings became private messages from which the couple discussed the countries they were, what they believed and constantly joked.
‘We always laughed. We get to know the hearts of the other. Finally, I mentioned that we should know, ‘he added.
After a year and a half of meeting online, the couple planned a meeting in Türkiye.
‘We cried when we met for the first time. There was no discomfort. We said that I love you too.
«Then it became, how do I have you in my life?
‘He suggested that I move to Iran, but then I said:’ Why can’t you come to America and live with me? ‘He said:’ I’m from Iran. That will never happen. »
Ribvar Karimi came to us legally after qualifying for a K1 visas for foreigners who are committed to Americans
Ribvar Karimi had been in the country for less than a year after being approved to come to the United States in October
Ribvar Karimi’s wife says that her Iranian husband was very proud to be in the United States, buying any patriotic team that could have in her hands
Ribvar Karimi enjoyed freedoms in the United States, such as wearing shorts, something that is not allowed in Iran, his wife told Daily Mail
The couple promised during their first three -week meeting in Istanbul.
Gardner began looking for a fiance visa for him, a process that took almost three years to be approved.
Eight more trips to Türkiye, generally between 2-3 weeks each, continued together with the couple’s family talking to try to understand and feel comfortable with their whirlwind.
‘At first, my family was not so sure, but after talking to him, they changed their minds. My father said after talking to him the first time he knew he was fine, ‘she said.
In October, Karimi’s K-1 visa was approved and was finally authorized to come to the United States.
The couple married on January 18 and Gardner learned that he took their first child shortly after saying ‘YES’.
His honeymoon phase became concern after learning about their pregnancy, however, the couple forged, planning a baby shower for their son next weekend.
Everything changed when ICE appeared at his door on Sunday, claiming that he was no longer legally in the United States because he never presented additional paperwork demonstrating that the marriage had really happened.
The couple committed a year and a half after the first online meeting during their first meeting in person.
Karimi is from Iranian Kurdistan, a region of Iran in the western part of the country. Kurds tend to be Sunni Muslims in a predominantly Shiite country are already discriminated against by the government
The unlikely couple married Alabama on January 18.
Gardner and her Iranian husband expect a baby. She is seven months pregnant
Gardner insists that they did not give a deadline to present the requirement. Now he has hired a lawyer who has confirmed that they were fulfilled.
‘He confirmed with me that there is no deadline to complete that paperwork. It was probably collected for everything that happened in Iran during the weekend.
Gardner says that he has had to use the savings of his life to pay the lawyers of the lawyers, since he already spent $ 12,000 only to get it here, and waiting to pay at least $ 10,000 more in an attempt to free it.
She is asking for online donations to help pay expenses and travel to Louisiana to see her husband, where ICE is expected to transfer it in a few days.
With the help of a lawyer, he hopes he will be released soon, but he is prepared to be alone during his Baby Shower this weekend.
‘I don’t feel that patriotic right now. I really feel disappointed as a American citizen, » he said.
«I feel this is just a great misunderstanding.»
(Tagstotranslate) Dailymail
