Malala Yousafzai
Born : 12 July 1997 (age 26)
Place : Mingora, North-West Frontier Province, Pakistan
Education : Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford (BA)
Occupation : Activist for female education
Organization : Malala Fund
Spouse : Asser Malik (Married – 2021)
Parents :
Father : Ziauddin Yousafzai
Mother : Toor Pekai Yousafzai
Honours : Nobel Peace Prize (2014)
About
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist and youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate, stands as a beacon for women’s and children’s rights, particularly in her native Swat. Born into a family valuing education, she courageously voiced her experiences under Taliban occupation through a BBC Urdu blog at just 11 years old. Her prominence grew after surviving an assassination attempt by the Taliban in 2012, drawing global attention and support.
Her recovery only fueled her dedication to education rights, leading to the co-founding of the Malala Fund and the publication of the bestselling memoir “I Am Malala.” Despite adversity, she pursued her education in England, graduating from Oxford University and later becoming the youngest Honorary Fellow at Linacre College, Oxford, in 2023. Malala’s unwavering commitment continues to inspire and drive change worldwide.
Early life
Childhood
Malala Yousafzai, born in 1997 in Pakistan’s Swat District, grew up in a humble household. Educated by her father, an activist and school owner, she was fluent in Pashto, Urdu, and English. Her passion for education rights emerged early which inspired by Benazir Bhutto . She began advocating at just 11 years old.
Despite the Taliban’s oppression, she spoke out courageously, questioning their denial of education. By 2009, she actively engaged in programs promoting constructive dialogue on social issues in schools, cementing her commitment to fighting for education rights in the face of adversity.
Banned from School
In January 2009, Malala voiced her distress over the closure of girls’ schools due to Taliban edicts. The situation worsened as schools were destroyed, disrupting exams. Returning to a desolate Mingora in February, she described the eerie silence and the impact on daily life.
Despite partial relaxation for some co-ed schools, girls-only institutions remained shut. Amid uncertain peace talks, gunshots echoed, and Malala fearlessly criticized the Taliban on national television. Eventually, a conditional allowance for girls’ education under strict dress codes was reluctantly granted by a Taliban leader in February.
Girls’ Schools Reopen
In late February, despite unrest, Malala found moments of joy with classmates. However, the Taliban’s presence persisted, with ongoing shelling and looting.
By early March, fear lingered as clashes between the military and Taliban resumed, casting doubt on the fragile peace. Yet, a glimmer of normalcy emerged as vehicle searches ceased. Her blog concluded in March 2009 after an exam mention.
As a displaced Person
Following the BBC diary, Malala and her father collaborated on a New York Times documentary. Amid the army’s operation in Swat, her family faced displacement and separation. Her father received a Taliban death threat after condemning militants.
Inspired by her father’s activism, she embraced a political future. In July, as refugee camps reached capacity, they returned home, meeting with US envoy Holbrooke for educational support. Luckily, their home and her school remained largely unscathed.
Early Activism
Post-documentary, Malala gained media attention through interviews and advocacy for female education. She chaired the District Child Assembly and received nominations for international peace awards, winning Pakistan’s National Youth Peace Prize.
Expressing political aspirations, she aimed to found a party for education. Her influence led to educational reforms and plans for the Malala Education Foundation. Inspired by figures like Benazir Bhutto and Abdul Ghaffar Khan, she continued her activism.
Medical Treatment
Following the shooting, Malala underwent critical surgeries in Pakistan before being airlifted to the UK for extensive treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital. Her remarkable recovery began as she emerged from a coma, displaying positive responses.
Despite battling infections and undergoing lengthy surgeries for nerve and skull reconstruction, she exhibited steady progress. Discharged in January 2013, she continued rehabilitation, including operations to restore hearing and facial nerves. By July 2014, her recovery was remarkable, with her facial nerve regaining nearly full functionality.
Reaction
Malala’s shooting sparked global outrage and support for her cause. Massive protests ensued in Pakistan, prompting the country’s first Right to Education Bill. Worldwide leaders, including President Obama and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, condemned the attack.
Icons like Madonna, Angelina Jolie, and Laura Bush voiced solidarity and support. The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility, citing religious justifications, while Islamic scholars and clerics issued fatwas against the attackers. Despite widespread condemnation, fringe elements in Pakistan propagated conspiracy theories and baseless accusations against Malala.
United Nations Petition
UN Special Envoy Gordon Brown visited Malala in the hospital, initiating a petition for global education, vowing that no child would be excluded from school by 2015, symbolizing Malala’s fight for education.
The petition contains three demands:
- We call on Pakistan to agree to a plan to deliver education for every child.
- We call on all countries to outlaw discrimination against girls.
- We call on international organizations to ensure the world’s 61 million out-of-school children are in education by the end of 2015.
Criminal investigation, arrests, and acquittals
Following Malala’s shooting, arrests were made, including the identification of Atta Ullah Khan as the gunman, who remained at large. Mullah Fazlullah, the orchestrator, was confirmed in Afghanistan and later killed in 2018. Reports emerged of arrests tied to a militant group”Shura” .
But revelations surfaced in 2015 that despite ten arrests and life sentences, eight men confessed to planning but were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, some believed to have fled to Afghanistan.
Education
Malala attended Edgbaston High School and excelled in her studies, achieving top grades at GCSE level. Accepted to study PPE at Oxford after conditional offers from multiple universities, she completed her degree in June 2020 with honors, meeting climate activist Greta Thunberg during her time at Oxford.
Nobel Peace Prize
Malala Yousafzai, at 17, became the youngest Nobel laureate in 2014, sharing the Peace Prize with Kailash Satyarthi. While praised, her win saw some critique for diverging from the award’s original intent. During her award ceremony, a protester highlighted Mexico’s issues, receiving acknowledgment and support from Malala.
Personal life
On 9 November 2021, Yousafzai married Asser Malik, a manager with the Pakistan Cricket Board, in Birmingham.
One thought on “Malala Yousafzai”