Arabic version: المجلس اليهودي يدعم طلب إقامة دائمة لمساعد في بوندي

According to ABC News, Australia’s peak Jewish body has urged Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke to grant permanent residency to Pakistani international student Abdullah Ashraf, who helped victims during the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14.

Ashraf was driving a rideshare car when he heard the incident and ran to assist. Fifteen people were killed and more than 40 injured when two men opened fire on a Jewish festival marking the start of Hanukkah. Ashraf helped an injured police officer, worked to stem the bleeding of a young mother after getting her children to safety, and attempted to help 27-year-old French engineer Dan Elkayam, staying with him as he died.

Simone Abel, head of legal at the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, said the community was indebted to Ashraf. “In Judaism, to save a life is to save the world, and Abdullah really saved the world that night,” she said. Abel said Ashraf could have escaped but instead ran into the scene to help, adding that Australia needed more people like him.

Ashraf says his student visa lapsed after he was granted compassionate leave from his studies to deal with trauma from the attack. ABC News reported that Indian national Rahemath Pasha and Israeli man Geffen Bitton, who also showed bravery during the attack, were granted permanent residency by Burke.

University of Sydney public law expert Mary Crock said the minister had wide-reaching powers to intervene and that Ashraf’s case should be handled similarly to other recent decisions. Burke was contacted for comment.