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Subscribe to RSSThree months after being shot in the head by the Taliban, Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai is still on the road to recovery and as committed as ever to education advocacy. NBC's Keir Simmons reports.
LONDON — Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for advocating girls' education, has been discharged from a hospital in the U.K. after doctors said she was well enough to spend some time recovering with her family.
The 15-year-old was shot at point-blank range in October after becoming a symbol of resistance to the insurgents' efforts to deny women education and other rights. The attack on Malala, which also wounded two of her classmates, prompted revulsion and condemnation, and helped galvanize supporters of women's education worldwide.
In a statement, the hospital treating her said she had been discharged on Thursday because she was healthy enough to be treated as an outpatient.
'Malala Day' marked in Pakistan, amid security fears
"Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery," Dave Rosser, medical director of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where Malala was treated, said in a statement. "Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers."
U.K. National Health Service
Malala Yousufzai was discharged from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, on Thursday.
Malala will be readmitted in late January or early February to undergo cranial reconstructive surgery as part of her long-term recovery, the hospital said. In the meantime, she will visit the hospital regularly to attend clinical appointments, the statement added.
More on this story from NBC's UK partner ITV News
Doctors said that although the bullet hit her left brow, it did not penetrate her skull but instead traveled underneath the skin along the side of her head and into her neck. The decision to send Malala to Britain was taken in consultation with her family; Pakistan is paying for her treatment.
Citing patient confidentiality, hospital authorities declined to say what her plans were to continue her education, though they acknowledge she is able to read in both English and Urdu.
The Pakistani teenager shot in the head by the Taliban for promoting girls' education has been released from hospital. Yousufzai will be treated as an outpatient at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. ITN's Rupert Evelyn reports.
Malala was flown to the U.K. on Oct. 15, six days after the school bus shooting. She was treated by doctors specializing in neurosurgery, trauma and other disciplines in a department of the hospital which has treated hundreds of soldiers wounded in conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq.
'Spy of the West': Al-Qaida, Taliban struggle to justify attack on Pakistani teen
The wave of condemnation that followed the attack prompted the Taliban to release statements justifying their action. Malala quickly became an international cause celebre and became a contender to become Time's Person of the Year 2012.
More than 250,000 people have also signed online petitions calling for her to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for her activism.
Yousufzai's father said in October he was sure she would "rise again" to pursue her dreams after medical treatment.
This month Pakistan appointed Malala's father, Ziauddin, as its education attache in Birmingham. The position, with an initial three-year commitment, virtually guarantees that Malala will remain in Britain for now.
In Paris, the courageous Pakistani ten Malala Yousafzai was honored at an event marking the U.N.'s Human Rights Day. NBC's Amna Nawaz reports.
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The Muslim religion has turned most men from that part of the world into pigs that know the can't compete with a woman when it comes to using their brain.
The attack on Malala, which also wounded two of her classmates, prompted revulsion and condemnation, and helped galvanize supporters of women's education worldwide.
Yes it glavanized supporters worldwide. Unfortunately it doesn't appear to have galvanized anything in Pakistan where medical workers are being shot weekly. At least the Pakistani government has found a way to keep her out of the country for at least three years, not that that means she is safe from the Taliban, but all that does is remove the problem so they don't have to deal with it directly. I'm happy she is safer for now, but I am not impressed with her government.
I would really hope she will remain the U.K., the Taliban will finish the attempt to kill her if given the chance. I believe the U.K. offers her more of a future than a return to Pakistan. She will be targeted because of the embarrassment it has caused the Taliban, and no amount of security can assure her safety. I think the examples are abundant to back that claim, look what happened to Benatar Bhutto.
If the Taliban even try, they will find they have made enemies around the world.
Enemies that are far better a what they do then the little Taliban man. (term "man" used loosely).
By the Border...I understand your sentiment, but why should the poor girl be forced out of her own home? I don't know her and haven't met her, but she's Pakistani and probably wants to live in Pakistan and work for rights for herself and others there. It sounds like she'll be in the UK for a few years while she recovers, and maybe she will decide to stay, but if I were her I would be mad as hell and getting ready to go back and fight some more.
Arizona - The Taliban already have enemies around the world and they really don't give a damn. That's why they do these things. They want to take over Afghanistan and Pakistan, seal them off from the rest of the world, and then run them any way they want. We think that is horrible but the citizens of Afghanistan and Pakistan have to think it is horrible and take action to stop it and prevent it. We have provided soldiers, trainers, arms, infrastructure and billions of dollars. It has not always been perfect or even good, but it is all we can do. Its time for them to decide what they really want and then do it.
I have not heard any follow up regarding Malala's schoolmate's in Pakistan. Are they still attending? Are they being threatened?
I am so afraid for this kid with all the violence that goes on there and it just seems like open season on kids. They really shouldn't have announced that this kid left the hospital. Media is really wrong for publishing this. My prayers and thoughts go out to this young girl. Keep safe.
In the last election we had men trying to tell women that their bodies shut down if they are raped!
A young girl gets shot while trying to get a education because the grown men don't think she should be able to!
I know it is different degrees but really some men like to push women around because it makes them feel bigger about themselves. Until we can stop the religious extremists in this country how can we expect to change the minds of extremists in other countries.
But to the point of the story. I am delighted to see this amazing young woman walk out of the hospital and smile as she is doing this. Young women around the world, I don't care your location or your religious beliefs, Kim K etc are not a role models for you Malala is.
Equating the religious right with the Taliban is beyond stupid.
Actually not, John Smith. If Rick Santorum (or further back, Mike Huckabee) hadn't been trying to get votes, I'm sure he would have been spouting off about a woman's place, arguing against equal pay and probably trying to take away the vote. In Santorum's case, did you ever notice how he treats his own wife? Is she a baby factory? By the way, adding a "69" to your user name is absolutely hilarious and not overdone at all. Well done.
John - if its your personal freedoms that are being threatened by the religious right, it seems a lot like the Taliban.
Typical liberal behavior: defending beyond stupid thinking. You idiots are so brainwashed by liberal BS that your thought mechanisms are just plain wacko. And I didn't pick the numbers on the handle, they did.
john: "Typical liberal behavior"? I think your second sentence is an excellent description of the world of ignorance, hate and fear in which you live. You couldn't define "liberal", let alone "conservative". "Stupid thinking" is far better than no thinking at all - thinking is self-corrective.
You are a brave young woman, Malala. You are a leader for young women everywhere. God Bless you.
She has my vote for Peace Prize and she should have been Time's Person of the Year rather than Obama.
Shooting a little girl proves to the world just kind of little men and cowards the Taliban are.
تصوير فتاة صغيرة يثبت للعالم مجرد نوع من الرجال الجبناء قليلا وحركة طالبان هي
I think that is correct in Arabic, just so any little Taliban men read this.
.
Sorry I just MSN bocks posting in Arabic. Interesting.
Opps I I said this they changed and allowed my post...even more interesting.
قد تكون حياتك مليئة بالحب والضحك وافراح عديدة. قد تكون حياتك جميع تي إتش تي تريد لها أن تكون، وقد تجد السلام.
translation
May your life be full of love, laughter and many joys. May your life be all that you want it to be , and may you find peace.
What a beautiful soul! She will continue to do great things in this world.
Way to go! Now use this second chance to change the world and achieve your dreams. Maybe with any luck you will have changed the minds of some prospects the "animals" had their sights on. Live well...
Well said, Johnnym75
What is the only musical instrument allowed in Pakistan? The Talibanjo. Where is that instrument played? In a Taliband. What is the favorite underarm deodorant in Pakistan? TallyBan.
Those animals will never silence you dear child! It is now time for Pakistani men to stand up for your women and children. Do you love them? Do you know what love is? This atrocious act should be a call to duty that should not be forgotten! I prefer to dedicate my life to my wife and my child and family than to some bizarre cult that involves violence such as this towards women and children... Burn your Koran, or head to a mosque that doesn't preach hate.
Taliban are cowardly idiots, kill them all and send their souls to hell
How hard is it to shoot a baby girl in the face or stone a woman to death, mutilate her, beat her, sell a child to some animal that will rape her at the age of 8? Very noble, right? Very manly, right? Strap a bomb on and blow up women and children at a market? These animals are the scum of the earth and I agree with you whole-heartedly!! Cowards... Just come out of your holes and fight... Fight like men. We will see who wins, and I guarantee you it won't be you!
Ahhhh! finally something to lift the spirits. I am so please that this little girl pulled through after that horrific attack. Thanks to all the surgeons and staff that made this happen. Good luck and keep up the good fight, you are an ambassador and a champion for women everywhere.
pretty hard to say god is on your side when you can't even take out a girl at point blank range. Not to mention the fact that they were scared of her in the first place. Killing women who refuse to submit is just as pathetic now as it was during the witch trials or even in the initial rise of monotheism. Time for men to grow up and accept that we are equals. If you don't like it then you should wrap your own lips around your precious gun....you know you want it
She is the face of 21st century feminism...and I think we're in good hands.
Pakistan has an obligation to act beyond just looking for the Neanderthals who shot her. The Taliban WILL try to kill her again, it's their religion to do so. The government should use this as an opportunity to trap her next attackers, put them on trial and show the world that Pakistan IS civilized. Otherwise, she's a dead girl walking.
Put them on trial??? Are you kidding? Who needs a trial for these animals? Just give us a GPS coordinate... Trial over...
Not that I'm a sexist(I am), but the admiration I have for this young girl is emence. She beat the Tali-Ban. The Tali-ban are a bunch of cowards and prey on victims like this girl. Caution should be placed on awarding her the Nobel Peace Prize however. This may irritate B. Hussein Odumbs**t. We all know how much he is deserving for this accolade.
gerald granger
Well, you admit you're a sexist and it's clear that you are an Obama-hater. I agree with you about admiration for this girl (although you misspelled immense), however, so some ideals are universal. I just want to point out that Obama ALREADY won the Nobel Peace Prize (4 years ago, get with the times) so you just have to wrap your head around that.
What a remarkable young woman. She is my hero today. If I could act as a bodyguard for her I would do so in a heartbeat! Give me the necessary firepower and I'm all in! Nothing more pleasing than exterminating some Taliban pests with a .50 cal desert eagle to start with!!!
First of all, I would like to thank Britain and their excellent team of doctors for saving Malala's life. You are the best....Malala, you are a hero. You definitely deserve the Nobel Peace Prize. I hope you and your family stay safe, and seek asylum in Britain.
I wish her well.
If the Taliban were right, would it be God's will that she survived? Look upon the path of your life and ask who should you follow.
The Bible has standards that many aren't following. Islam has their own, so you want to remember that. God will
judge all through Christ in his due time.
Maybe this miracle will have some Taliban rethink what they are doing. When you shoot someone at point blank range in the head and they look to be making a full recovery you have to know God/Alaha wants her to live. Even if they don't, she is an inspiration to her cause and an example that will lead her cause.
Thank God she went to the UK for treatment. If she came to the USA they would of been filling out the welfare forums by her bedside. The funny thing is they will still be Muslim cause the leftist in the world keep telling you it's everything ( Taliban, Terrorist's and Radical Islam ) but Islam. The best one is radical Islam? Don't worry radical Islam is the same as Islam. I Just hope you keep all those animals in their own country cause Islam don't mix with western society. They come here and kill their daughters cause they watched MTV or put lipstick on. You need to go to their country's and sterilize their Children so they don't breed anymore.
Should she have been sterilized, then? Since she's a Muslim and all Muslims are radicals and animals?
You sound like a terrorist.
Blessings to you Malala! As far as I am concerned, women and men are not to be in conflict about who is the better sex, but should be working together to make the world a better place. These men are afraid of losing control over these women, and this poor girl almost paid the ultimate price for a simple statement. Abuse of these women needs to stop!