{"id":67510,"date":"2023-08-15T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T14:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=67510"},"modified":"2023-08-16T21:07:34","modified_gmt":"2023-08-17T01:07:34","slug":"the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/","title":{"rendered":"The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8278.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67616\" width=\"849\" height=\"620\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8278.jpg 750w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8278-525x384.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8278-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8278-82x60.jpg 82w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 849px) 100vw, 849px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Shakiba Teimori, a singer, became well-known after appearing on &#8220;Afghan Star.&#8221; (Credit: Shakiba Teimori, Instagram)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: This is part of our <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/afghan-women-we-are-not-fragile\/\">Afghan Women<\/a> project, marking two years since the Taliban takeover<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Shakiba Teimori, raised in Iran by Afghan parents, first came to Afghanistan in 2019 to sing on a television show she had grown up watching, \u201cAfghan Star.\u201d Through her television screen, the country had appeared to be a lively place, full of music, accepting of all people. Her parents, who had fled during the Taliban\u2019s last stint in power, never talked about their homeland.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNow I know why.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>After she showed her long, flowing hair on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bGlfV4gI63I\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">television<\/a>, it was as if she were exiled by Afghans who held conservative views. Not even the television station security guards would accompany her to shops or to restaurants anymore. One time, she went hiking and a little girl recognized her and asked for a picture. But when the girl\u2019s mother arrived and saw Teimori, she picked up rocks and threw them at her.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhy are you coming here?\u201d the woman yelled. \u201cAre you going to put Taliban attention on our home?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_eafa45135f90773f792654bce5f85692\" class=\"wp-block podcast-player alignwide\">\n              <div class=\"player_container player-67379\" ><div class=\"spp_player_textabove\"><b>Listen to the Episode  <\/b><\/div><div id=\"sm2-67379\" class=\"sm2-67379 playercontent sm2-bar-ui compact flat full-width full-width-player\"><div class=\"bd sm2-main-controls\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-button-element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"background: transparent url(https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2021\/05\/podcast_channel_artwork.jpg) repeat scroll 0% 0% \/ cover ;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"spp-player-background\"> <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#play\" class=\"sm2-inline-button play-pause\"><\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"loader\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"eq\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-1\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-2\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-3\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"bar bar-4\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-inline-status progressbar\">\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"display:none;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch0\" style=\"display:none;\">0.75x<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch1\">1x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch2\" style=\"display:none;\">1.25x<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch3\" style=\"display:none;\">1.5x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"playerpitch4\" style=\"display:none;\">2x<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-button-bd\" style=\"display:none;\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"secrewind\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist-target\"><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bd\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-track\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bar1\" style=\"display:none;\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-bar\"><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-progress-ball\"><div class=\"icon-overlay\"><\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-row timestamp timetext\"><div class=\"sm2-inline-time timestamp\">0:00<\/div><div class=\"sm2-inline-duration timestamp\">37:37<\/div><\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-inline-element sm2-button-element sm2-volume\" style=\"0\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <div class=\"sm2-button-bd\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"sm2-inline-button sm2-volume-control volume-shade\"><\/span>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"#volume\" class=\"sm2-inline-button sm2-volume-control\" style=\"\"><\/a>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t   <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t  <\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"bd sm2-playlist-drawer sm2-element\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sm2-playlist-wrapper\">\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"sm2-playlist-bd\"><li><a href=\"https:\/\/chtbl.com\/track\/4DAC6F\/traffic.libsyn.com\/secure\/thestoryexchange\/Afghan_Podcast.mp3?dest-id=296878\">Afghan Women: &#8216;We Are Not Fragile&#8217;<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><\/div>\n          \n  <\/div>\n\n\n<p>This was in 2020 \u2013 before the Taliban even regained control of the country. So when August of 2021 rolled around, she knew she had to get out. She reached out to nearly every contact in her phone to see who could help her, but had no luck. Then, she got a message from one of her fan pages on social media. It was an Afghan refugee in Greece who had a connection to Danna Harman\u2019s rescue coalition (read more <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-israeli-american-journalist-who-led-the-escape-mission\/\">here<\/a>) and was able to get Teimori on a bus, along with her fianc\u00e9, Azizullah Roshangar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think a miracle happened to me,\u201d Teimori said. \u201cAnd God wanted me to be safe.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1f9f6a56-50c6-4c20-b4dc-d22b1a398036.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67942\" width=\"372\" height=\"662\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1f9f6a56-50c6-4c20-b4dc-d22b1a398036.jpeg 563w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1f9f6a56-50c6-4c20-b4dc-d22b1a398036-525x933.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1f9f6a56-50c6-4c20-b4dc-d22b1a398036-150x266.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/1f9f6a56-50c6-4c20-b4dc-d22b1a398036-34x60.jpeg 34w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 372px) 100vw, 372px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Teimori wore a burqa on the bus out of Afghanistan. (Credit: Shakiba Teimori)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>After crossing the border into Tajikistan, followed by a stay at a refugee camp in Abu Dhabi, she and Roshangar were able to safely relocate to Calgary. Her family still lives in Iran, while her fianc\u00e9\u2019s family lives in Pakistan. She and Roshangar are waiting to get married until their parents can be present. \u201cThey were in a really bad situation too, worried about us. So we want to share the good situation with them too, a happy moment,\u201d she said. \u201cWe want to marry \u2013 it&#8217;s not important where.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She hasn\u2019t been able to pick up her singing career where it left off, as most of her fanbase had been centralized in Afghanistan. However, she connects with her fans through social media (she and her fianc\u00e9 like to post <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=oOdfIHgbZvM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prank<\/a> videos on Youtube) \u2013 and even stays in regular contact with the fan from Greece who helped her to escape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI have her as a family friend now,\u201d she said. \u201cWe\u2019re so close.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It will be awhile before she feels completely at home in Canada, if she ever does. She misses the weather in Afghanistan, as well as the food, the markets, the colorful clothing and the people. But when asked what she misses most, she paused for a moment to think.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cMyself,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_5b442069abdb52b62eb155f8546828c3\" class=\"wp-block featured-category alignwide style-1\">\n  <div class=\"section-title\">\n          <h2>The Women We Talked To<\/h2>\n        \n  <\/div>\n  \n      <div class=\"row\">\n          \n                       <article id=\"post-67507\" class=\"post-item  post-67507 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-humanitarian-aid tag-refugee-support tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-israeli-american-journalist-who-led-the-escape-mission\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"386\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-525x386.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-525x386.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-150x110.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271-82x60.jpg 82w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8271.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-israeli-american-journalist-who-led-the-escape-mission\/\">\n            The Israeli-American Journalist Who Led an Escape Mission\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Danna Harman didn&#8217;t have any tools or resources, but she knew she had to do something to help the Afghan girls who reached out to her.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67518\" class=\"post-item  post-67518 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-journalism tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-aspiring-journalist-following-in-the-footsteps-of-her-father\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-525x394.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Marwa Dashty at the restaurant in Toronto where she now works. She and her family fled Afghanistan in 2021, but her father stayed behind to join the resistance. (Credit: Colleen DeBaise)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-525x394.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-800x600.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-150x113.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c-80x60.jpeg 80w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/057EE058-8B77-402A-A646-A1B9953D3703_1_105_c.jpeg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-aspiring-journalist-following-in-the-footsteps-of-her-father\/\">\n            The Aspiring Journalist Following in the Footsteps of Her Father\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Marwa Dashty&#8217;s father, a well-known journalist, was killed after the Taliban took over. Now, the 20-year-old wants to continue his legacy by becoming a journalist herself.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67510\" class=\"post-item  post-67510 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-cultural-identity tag-refugee-experiences tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"354\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-525x354.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-525x354.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-150x101.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279-89x60.jpg 89w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279.jpg 566w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\">\n            The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. And then she fled for real. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67512\" class=\"post-item  post-67512 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-political-resistance tag-womens-rights\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"368\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-525x368.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-525x368.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-150x105.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272-86x60.jpg 86w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8272.jpg 750w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind\/\">\n            The Teacher Who Chose to Stay Behind\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>When Munireh&#8217;s father first received news of the Taliban takeover, he sent all the women in the family to Iran \u2013 but she refused to leave Afghanistan.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67516\" class=\"post-item  post-67516 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-societal-norms tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-mobile-app-developer-secretly-working-online\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-525x350.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-525x350.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-150x100.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244-90x60.jpeg 90w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8244.jpeg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-mobile-app-developer-secretly-working-online\/\">\n            The Mobile App Developer Secretly Working Online\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Parima hides the fact that she works remotely, as many of her neighbors in Afghanistan don&#8217;t believe women should have jobs. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67520\" class=\"post-item  post-67520 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-education tag-entrepreneurship tag-women-in-stem\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"313\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-525x313.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-525x313.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-150x90.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269-101x60.jpg 101w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8269.jpg 687w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-founder-of-afghanistans-first-all-girls-coding-school\/\">\n            The Founder of Afghanistan\u2019s First All-Girls Coding School\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Fereshteh Forough opened Afghanistan&#8217;s first coding school for girls and women \u2013 but the Taliban&#8217;s ban on education prevents students from learning in-person. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67522\" class=\"post-item  post-67522 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-human-rights tag-judiciary tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-judge-who-escaped-we-lost-all-of-our-achievement\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"350\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-525x350.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Women who served as judges in Afghanistan were immediate targets when the Taliban seized control. (Credit: anindyoandar\/Shutterstock.com)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-525x350.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1-90x60.jpg 90w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/shutterstock_2312580127-1.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-judge-who-escaped-we-lost-all-of-our-achievement\/\">\n            The Judge Who Escaped: &#8216;We Lost All of Our Achievement&#8217;\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Since the Taliban&#8217;s return to power, women judges \u2013 who once dared to sentence men for their crimes \u2013 have been forced into hiding. We spoke to one whose identity we are protecting.<\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                         <article id=\"post-67513\" class=\"post-item  post-67513 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-features tag-afghan-women tag-cultural-identity tag-refugee-experiences tag-women-empowerment\">\n  <div class=\"post-wrap\">\n          <div class=\"entry-thumbnail\">\n          <div class=\"thumbnail\">\n    <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-college-student-getting-a-fresh-start\/\" class=\"post-image-link\">\n        <div class=\"fill\">\n            <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"394\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-525x394.jpg\" class=\"attachment-medium size-medium wp-post-image\" alt=\"Rodaba Noori, now a student at Bard College, stands in front of Montgomery Place, a mansion overlooking the Hudson River. (Credit: Kate Brennan)\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-525x394.jpg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-800x600.jpg 800w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-150x113.jpg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Rodaba-at-Bard-20.jpg 900w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/a>\n<\/div>\n                <\/div>\n        <div class=\"entry-text\">\n              <h3 class=\"post-title\">\n          <a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-college-student-getting-a-fresh-start\/\">\n            The College Student Getting a Fresh Start\n          <\/a>\n        <\/h3>\n        <div class=\"entry-content excerpt\">\n          <p>Rodaba Noori is enjoying her new life at Bard College in upstate New York, but she still doesn&#8217;t consider it home. <\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n<\/article>                    \n          <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n<div id=\"block_e8ea651bdf740f98f1a21618f1f0a0f0\" class=\"wp-block timeline-cta alignwide\">\n    <div class=\"timeline-cta-wrap\">\n        <div class=\"timeline-cta-text\">\n        <h2>A Timeline of Women in Afghanistan<\/h2>\n        <p>Breakthroughs and Setbacks<\/p>\n        <a class=\"button red\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/a-timeline-of-women-in-afghanistan\/\">Explore<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/2014-Women-in-Kabul-Wikimedia-Commons-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"timeline-cta-background\">\n            <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"block_91899b283af43a3ec14206b726f97126\" class=\"wp-block footer-cta alignwide\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"background-image\" src=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/zabihullah-habibi-b522ia5vG5c-unsplash-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>\n        <div class=\"wrap\">\n      <h2>Ways to Support Afghan Women<\/h2>\n      <p>Learn about the resources and organizations you can support to help Afghan Women.<\/p>\n      <a class=\"button red\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/ways-to-support\/\">Learn More<\/a>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. And then she fled for real. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":67887,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"autoblue_enabled":false,"autoblue_custom_message":"","autoblue_shares":[],"autoblue_post_url":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[187],"tags":[19632,20172,21942,19682],"class_list":["post-67510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-features","tag-afghan-women","tag-cultural-identity","tag-refugee-experiences","tag-women-empowerment"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.3 (Yoast SEO v27.4) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. And then she fled for real.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. And then she fled for real.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-pop-star-whose-fan-helped-her-get-out\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"The Story Exchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/TheStoryExchange\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-08-15T14:16:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-08-17T01:07:34+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/app\/uploads\/2023\/08\/IMG_8279.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"566\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"382\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Kate Brennan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TheStoryXchange\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Kate Brennan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The Pop Star Whose Fan Helped Her Get Out","description":"After Shakiba Teimori showed her long, flowing hair on television, it was as if she were exiled. 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