15 Facts About Maria Bashir

Maria Bashir is a prosecutor based in Afghanistan and the only woman to ever hold such a position in the country as of 2009.

Maria Bashir was banned from working during the Taliban period, when she spent her time schooling girls illegally at her residence, when it was illegal for women to be seen unescorted by men on the streets.

Maria Bashir, the eldest child in her family, was a bright student right from her school days.

Maria Bashir received encouragement from her late father to further her studies beyond school level, in a country that is very restrictive in its attitude towards women.

Maria Bashir graduated in 1994 with a four-year course in Law at Kabul University and later underwent a year-long training in Kabul as a prosecutor.

In 1996, after graduation, Maria Bashir married the owner of an import business based in China, and moved to his city, Herat.

Maria Bashir had to stay indoors, like other women, until 2001, when the American invasion enabled women to start working again, at which time she resumed her previous role as Criminal Investigator.

Maria Bashir started schooling them underground, at her residence, with students smuggling books and other items necessary for their studies inside shopping bags.

Maria Bashir believed that the Taliban regime would fall, and wanted women to be ready to join the workforce when this happened.

Maria Bashir's appointment was welcomed by the then US Government as significant progress in its Westernization of the country after Taliban rule.

Maria Bashir was critical: stating that though the new constitution provided equal rights to women, many judges still subscribed to the old Islamic Sharia Law.

Maria Bashir recommended that the anti corruption efforts can only be successful if they are coupled with salary increases for the public servants, as the meagre salaries that they receive now forces them to look 'elsewhere' to supplement them.

Maria Bashir showed her concern on the lack of enforcing power of the laws, which makes the legal system powerless.

Maria Bashir's appointment was not taken well by the fanatics, for her being a woman.

Maria Bashir started receiving telephonic threats, calling for her resignation.