蜜芽传媒

Sammi Cannold, a Jewish Broadway director, and Safi Rauf, a Muslim humanitarian, met in August 2021 during the chaotic evacuation of civilians from Afghanistan. She had seen him on a news report and reached out for help evacuating the family of her friend. Safi agreed on one condition; she had to volunteer. Sammi dropped everything and travelled from New York to Washington, where they worked side by side in a makeshift operations centre. Amid the crisis, they fell in love.

Just months into dating, Safi was taken hostage by the Taliban while carrying out humanitarian work in Kabul. For 105 days, he was held in a basement prison but a smuggled phone changed everything. Through whispered late-night calls, their bond deepened as Sammi worked tirelessly to get him released.

Across two weeks we've curated a collection of love stories from around the world. Love in all its guises; puppy love that falters and finds its feet again, longing through wars and exile, and romance that blooms in the most unexpected places. Messy, beautiful and sometimes heartbreaking. But always human, surprising and unforgettable. You'll find them all on the Outlook website in a box set called Amazing Love Stories.

Presenter: Mobeen Azhar
Producer: Thomas Harding Assinder

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707

(Photo: Sammi and Safi on their wedding day. Credit: Provided by Sammi and Safi)