{"id":67512,"date":"2023-08-15T10:16:00","date_gmt":"2023-08-15T14:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/?p=67512"},"modified":"2023-08-16T12:55:01","modified_gmt":"2023-08-16T16:55:01","slug":"the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/the-teacher-who-chose-to-stay-behind\/","title":{"rendered":"The Teacher Who Chose to Stay Behind"},"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\/Munireh-at-desk.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-67600\" width=\"853\" height=\"835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Munireh-at-desk.jpeg 750w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Munireh-at-desk-525x514.jpeg 525w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Munireh-at-desk-150x147.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Munireh-at-desk-61x60.jpeg 61w, https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Munireh-at-desk-45x45.jpeg 45w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 853px) 100vw, 853px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><em>Munireh, who has an online job, spends most of her day alone until her father and brother come home at night. (Credit: Munireh)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Editor\u2019s Note: This is part of our&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thestoryexchange.org\/afghan-women-we-are-not-fragile\/\">Afghan Women<\/a>&nbsp;project, marking two years since the Taliban takeover.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Munireh kept her camera off. Her voice traveled clearly though the speaker, but the black Zoom screen served as a chilling reminder of the ongoing erasure of women from the public eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When her father first received news of the Taliban\u2019s takeover, he sent all the women in the family to Iran \u2013 but Munireh refused to go.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI didn&#8217;t want to go there because I had to be here,\u201d she said. \u201cI was a teacher here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before the Taliban came, she was teaching coding to young boys and girls. But after the Taliban came, the coding school shut down for three months. Now, it\u2019s open again \u2013 but only for boys. \u201cThere were very talented girls who worked very hard,\u201d she said. \u201cThey made mobile applications that were very good. But now I have their certificates in my home because they were not even allowed to go to the office and get them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Munireh, whose full name we are not using, got an online coding job after the coding school closed. She\u2019s at home by herself for most of the day until her father and brother come home at night. She said it\u2019s difficult to be happy that she has an online job, when she knows her students don\u2019t have opportunities. Scholarships are scant, and she said there are a lot of scams going around disguised as scholarship advertisements. Even students who do receive scholarships to universities in other countries are having trouble obtaining visas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t have hope anymore,\u201d she said, her voice breaking. What followed was a long silence, and then the sound of sniffling.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_286eb10b3ee07be7a04ef807aab0617f\" 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>At the same time, she said she wouldn\u2019t even have a problem with the Taliban if they allowed women the same freedoms as men. She said cities like Herat and Kabul have seen a decline in civilian crime since the militant group has come into power \u2013 \u201cbut if I\u2019m not free, I don\u2019t like it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to her aversion to the Taliban, she is frustrated with how quick people are to comply with the group\u2019s strictures. \u201cFor example, [in September of 2021] the Taliban told universities the classes should be separated for men and women and they accepted it. I don&#8217;t like it. We should not accept it,\u201d she said. \u201cYes, that&#8217;s the Taliban\u2019s fault, but some of it is people doing it to themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Munireh attended a protest earlier this year at Herat University \u2013 but she told her father she was just going to a friend\u2019s house. The protesters, mostly young girls, marched toward the city center until the Taliban dispersed them. Munireh heard later on that some girls had been arrested.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Make no mistake \u2013 she is afraid of the Taliban. But there\u2019s one thing she\u2019s afraid of more.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI&#8217;m more afraid of the next decision they make for us,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen the Taliban came, they didn&#8217;t say anything to girls. But then they said girls should not go to the schools. After that, they said women shouldn&#8217;t go to university. I believe that tomorrow they will say a woman should not come out of her home. Anything is possible. And that&#8217;s why if someone tells me to come and protest, I accept.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"block_9767c8c85961187eae7da26068c0282c\" 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_a098c00b1037be343618a280453330b2\" 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_abb053f7523fa114c583c7c2511a5160\" 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>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","protected":false},"author":161,"featured_media":67602,"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":[19632,19606,22475,19714],"class_list":["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"],"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 Teacher Who Chose to Stay Behind<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"When Munireh&#039;s father first received news of the Taliban takeover, he sent all the women in the family to Iran \u2013 but she refused to go.\u00a0\" \/>\n<meta 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