caption years_active children awards nationality article_title birth_date known_for residence image employer education name occupation alma_mater
at attorney general 's office , herat 4 sajad -lrb- son -rrb- yasaman -lrb- daughter -rrb- international women of courage award , 2011 afghan maria bashir
 1970 first woman prosecutor in afghanistan herat , afghanistan maria bashir.jpg -lsb- http://www.ago.gov.af/ attorney general 's office , afghanistan -rsb- law maria bashir chief prosecutor general , herat province kabul university
maria bashir

maria bashir is a prosecutor based in afghanistan , who is the only woman to ever hold such a position in the country .
with more than fifteen years of experience with afghan civil service - the taliban , corrupt policemen , death threats , failed assassination attempts - she has seen them all .
she 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 .
in the post-taliban era , she was called back into service , and was made the chief prosecutor general of herat province in 2006 .
with her main focus on eradicating corruption and oppression of women , she has handled around 87 cases in 2010 alone .
recognising her work , the united states department of state , presented her the international women of courage award which is awarded annually to women around the world who have shown leadership , courage , resourcefulness and willingness to sacrifice for others , especially for better promotion of women 's rights , often at risk to their own lives .
bashir also featured in the 2011 time 100 , an annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world composed by time .
