It takes courage to stand up against tyranny, oppression and threats but that’s what this young girl did. She refused to be bullied.
As a twelve year-old Malala campaigned for the right for girls to be educated. That is a basic human right and one that in the 21st century one would imagine would not be contentious. In Pakistan it was contentious enough to warrant death threats, threats of rape and threats to her family.
The Taliban had already blown up over a hundred girls’ schools.
Malala was not cowed by these threats and continued to campaign.
She was shot at point blank range in the head. One bullet hit her in the forehead. She was flown to England for treatment and made a full recovery.
The Taliban called for all Muslims to take up arms and kill her and her father. Asking for female education warrants a death sentence.
Malala is made of stern stuff and brushed off the death threats and continued to campaign. Her cause was taken up by Gordon Brown who, on her behalf, put forward a UN petition to the effect that all people in the world had the right to be educated. It led to Pakistan producing an ‘education for all’ law.
Malala was awarded the Nobel peace prize.
We need more like Malala who are prepared to stand up to inequality and bullying.
Help build a better world with a positive Zeitgeist.
Well done Malala – we are all with you!
