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Subscribe to RSSThe Pakistani schoolgirl, Malala Yousufzai, who was shot in the head by the Taliban for fighting for the right of girls to be educated, spoke of her pride today and said being back in school was her "happiest moment." ITV's Rupert Evelyn reports.
The Pakistani teen marked for death because she campaigned for girls' education went back to school Tuesday for the first time since a Taliban gunman shot her in the head five months ago, a family spokesperson said.
Malala Yousafzai is attending classes in Birmingham, England, and not her homeland, where the Taliban had vowed to make another attempt on her life.
Still, it was a sweet victory for a 15-year-old who endured multiple surgeries to reconstruct her skull and restore her hearing after she was shot on her way home from school Oct. 9.
"It’s what I dreamed," she said in a video released by the public relations firm that works with her family.
"I dream for all the children that they should go to their school because it’s their right…their basic right.”
She wore the school’s green uniform top over a long black skirt, her head covered in a dark scarf, with a pink backpack slung over her shoulder.
She joked about the overcast weather in Britain with her father, saying, “I wish I could see the sun.”
Malala was already a well-known activist in Pakistan when a militant stormed her school bus and opened fire, wounding her and two other girls and sparking international outrage.
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Fifteen-year-old Malala Yousufzai was shot by the Taliban for speaking out against Pakistani militants and promoting education for girls.
The Taliban, which opposes education for girls, later said it wanted to punish her "Western thinking."
She said in the video that being able to go back to school was “the happiest moment.”
“Today I will hold my books, my bag and I will learn. I will talk to my friends and I will talk to my teacher,” she said.
“I want to learn how to bring change in this world.”
Her two wounded friends, whose injuries were less severe, are also back at school in Pakistan's Swat Valley, where they are protected by government guards, the Christian Science Monitor reported.
"Before I was a normal girl," Kainat Riaz, 16, told the paper. "Now I am afraid to go out and can't go anywhere freely."
Malala Press Office via AP
Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by the Taliban, with her father Ziauddin, as she attends her first day of school.
NBC Islamabad Bureau Chief Amna Nawaz contributed to this report
Related:
Malala, teen champion of girls' rights, nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
Thousands rally in Karachi for Malala, 14-year-old Pakistani girl shot by Taliban
'Spy of the West': Al-Qaida, Taliban struggle to justify attack on Pakistani teen
Leave a Comment:
Good for you!!! I am very proud of you and all you have accomplished. Study hard and continue to represent all the girls the world over who have been prevented from getting an education. You are an inspiration to many. Remember, no one can take the knowledge you will gather. Since I am not a Muslim or speaker of Urdu, forgive me if this is incorrect; "Allah ka fazal ho."
best wishes, Malala
Girls just want to have fun.
Oh my God! Somebody call the Devil and ask if it's cold! I actually agree with something that Pigotry wrote!
She and her family are a shining example of the good people who live in Pakistan; just as the Taliban is an example of the evil ones who live there.
She comes to the UK. Dresses like she has to in her Muslim country. What has she accomplished. Goes to a foreign country to get educated. Live off of other peoples money. 'She and her family are shining example of the good people of Pakistan.' Where if you are Christian they burn your houses, churches, kill your women. If you convert, stone you or behead you. Yes great isn't it.
You go girl! Yeah you go and get a good education and grow up to be a great woman. A woman that hides in a burka and walks two steps behind her master... oh, I mean her husband. Isn't f'n ISLAM just great.
so soooooo sweet...
.
education is for everyone....absolutely EVERYONE
Gasp, the picture clearly shows her ankles. Death to the blasphemer.
If she wants to keep sucking air, she'd better stay in England.
Keep this girl safe. Down with right wing movements (Taliban, reactionary Republicans, KKK, Tea Party, crack-pot Christians, N.R.A., etc.).
Just reading this young woman's words I got choked up. Bless her and her journey, the Islamic world needs more young woman like her.
Wishing this brave beautiful girl all the best.
The Taliban just want to continue with their ways of keeping girls uneducated, marrying them and raping them at age 8 (that's the age where they are allowed to consummate a marriage). They are a bunch of sick pathetic dogs who only agree with their own way and death to everyone else!
Good for her.
I am Muslim and I really don't understand the thinking of the Taliban. Islam tells men and women to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave. In other words, education whether in a classroom or elsewhere is a right and a requirement for everyone. Knowledge is power and the Taliban know this. Maybe that's why they are so afraid of Malala.
May Allah protect her and grant her success in her studies.
Kevin.... There are just some people in this world who try to feel better about themselves by making others feel small... Try to make themselves feel powerful and important by making others feel weak and afraid... It's time for all people of all nationalities and faith to take back what God has given to All... not just a privileged few... God bless this brave girl on her journey through life....
I'm oh so happy to hear she has returned to school; maybe one day she'll go back to Pakistan and be a President or Prime Minister and can be an even better example for young girls not only in Pakistan but Afghanistan and other countries where the Taliban and radical (so called) muslims are.
Malala, BRAVO!!!
Bibol,you're a freaken idiot. Guess you missed the part where she was shot in the head huh!? I bet you are living off other peoples money also because you're just a lazy bum. Good luck Malala.
Malala, you are a beacon of light in an often dark world. Keep on shining!
Bibol is obviously constipated this evening. I'm sure he'll feel better soon.
Fun? Um, no; girls just want to not be shot in the head and receive an education.
Ralph, you left out a few groups. Like hypocritical libs and Dems and the media. Not to mention the religions you (like the media) failed to point out their hate and ignorance.
Malala--- May every day of your life bring you sunshine, health and happiness. May every day bring you knowledge, understanding, compassion, love and tolerance. May you walk freely in safety without fear of injury. May you speak to everyone who wishes to speak with you without fear of reprisals or pain. And may God/Allah bless your Papa for truly loving you and knowing that you are his very precious daughter.
I second Tess42's sentiments. Papa is one real man and he has more and bigger balls than has all the Taliban togather.
Kevin, it's because the Taliban, like any other religious extremist group, don't really care about the religion as much as they claim they do. They use the religion to put themselves in positions of power, making their word law. That's all they really care about. They just use the religion as a front.
Jeff,
You are dead on. To some people (thugs, tyrants, or whatever you want to call them), religion is just a tool that they use to manipulate others into compliance. That's one reason it is important to learn. People with knowledge have a much easier time distinguishing truth from lies.
I am so glad to hear you are back in school. You inspire so many..we dont need to be Muslim to be inspired and impressed by you. You are headed for great things.
I agree betterlate. You go girl!
Um...... Sure......What a mess....
Not sure where you are at Mr Frost.
Betterlate - we AREN'T inspired or Muslim to be impressed. ;)
That's life.
But not in Pakistan?! So a Western (Christian) country (again) provides the safe place for a dissenter, this time a girl wanting what westerners consider a basic right. Fine, it is a touching story but the problem is still just sitting there. How many more of them will arrive because their cult (Islam) suffers no foolery, then poison the very shelter they came to with demands for (eventually) shariah law or just plain muslim sensibility. Is there anyplace in the Muslim world where Christian or westerners are flocking to avoid Christian or Western persecution or oppression? When they have browbeaten us away from our Christan and Western ideals, where do I go not to be eaten or for respite?
I agree Greg. She is only now able to continue her petition for Muslim women to get an education in a Western country (can't say how Chrisitan the UK is anymore... it's pretty weird over there). She is only allowed her freedom due to the protection of Non-Muslims...
Funny how they rarely talk about the Chrisitans being slaughtered in Africa by the thousands from Muslim extremists. If these extremists are such a minority of Islam; how are they so effectively killing so many Christians and Jews in so many different countries? Which is probably why the Christians and Jews are evacuating those countries as fast as they can.
So much for religions of peace and tolerance.
Would you want to go back to the country that allowed a man to enter your school bus and shoot you point blank in the face? All because you blog about women's rights? Add that to the fact that the organization responsible for shooting you has placed a bounty on your "western thinking" head and vowed to make another attempt on your life.
If my country is going to be "invaded" by Muslims, I'd rather they be like Malala than like the ones who shot her.
I pray that God continue to protect this courageous girl and her family, or all none Muslims being persecuted by Islam in the world. Considering the growing population of Muslim extremists in the UK, I still fear for this little girl's life. Britain, is quick becoming Britastan. The cancer of Islam is spreading throughout the world.
As usual you Islam haters are on the roll and as usual you haven't done your damn homework. She is still getting therapy at the hospital in the UK and her treatment is not complete. She is a patriot and has vowed to become a politician in Pakistan to change things. Her father is also a Pakistan loving patriot and will return back to Pakistan. You people try to paint everything with one paint brush and one color but you are so ignorant you don't even know the whole story and you comment.
The only people who are a cancer are you people! and you are NO different than the Taliban. You people are the exact same type of people they recruit...The weak of mind and ignorant!
Europe is up to its eyeballs w pakis and every middle eastern type claiming "persecution". Once they are there though, they slowly revert to their tribal ways and caste system. God forbid Europeans call them on it, then they claim racism. Seems hypocritical since they seem determined to force their culture and ways into a society that's opposed to it. they want to turn Europe into what they left behind. Enough already. Time to deport them all back to their countries of origin. Europe for Europeans. This girl should be back in her country, she already got plenty from the Brits, now go home. She'd be safer in some other country, The UK is full of displaced Taliban anyway.
Aisha, wife of Mohammad, was a very well educated woman. Since they were married when she was very young (Please, let's talk about one issue at a time.), it is probable that she received her education with his permission and it is likely that he paid for it. Yet, those little tin godlets, imams, who put themselves above Allah, the Quran and Mohammad, declare themselves as holy.
When it is time to meet on the Plain of Judgment, who will be weeping??? Who will be weeping??? Who will be weeping???
Slasher 123
Islam haters. What are you talking about. These are the people who behead people in the 20th century. Kill non believers, burn their houses, rape their women, kill their men, burn their houses, burn their churches, synagogues house of worships of all faiths. Are willing to get an education. Like the Palestinian doctors educated in England and were terrorists under cover. They had bombs Slasher123.
"Throughout the Holy Quran, there is example after example of respect for women as leaders and acknowledgement of women as equals. Again, the first word of the Holy Book is "Read." It does not say, "men Read"; it says, "Read." It is a command to all believers, not just to men." Quote from "Reconciliation" by Benazir Bhutto (June 21, 1953 - December 27, 2007).
I guess many Muslim men have strayed away from the words of their prophet.
Christianity is the principle expressed in the life of Jesus (non- political, non-secular, and focused on Heavenly kingdom). Christianity is not represented by the western nations. They represent Christendom and there is a difference. Christendom is the political alliance of the church with the state and its influence on culture. Christendom can descend in to evil and it did. Christendom (not Christianity) had its share of evil in the past and it could comeback swinging.It is CIVILIZATION despite 'Christendom' that is providing shelter to people like Malala and others who escaped from cruel violence perpetrated by violent Muslims. The west championed it and sensible people around the world enjoy it. Islamic teaching, if you pay attention and do what the Quran says, you will be incredibly unreasoning violent killer. it is kill, kill, slaughter, behead and chop off. It is absolute madness. Do not be fooled by the statement 'Islam is a religion of peace'. This is a joke. It is not. Just read the book. It will tell you to your face. What makes many of its followers peaceful is that they happen to be peace loving by nature just like many other humans, despite what the book tells them to do. And what I find baffling here is how the Untied States keeps on supplying the government of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt with billions of dollars in military aid, a multitude of F16 fighter planes, thousands of modern tanks! Why, why, why? As we speak, under the new Egyptian constitution, those who want to practice Christianity are just ready to be slaughtered under the provision of 'disturbing public order'. It is unrealistic to expect Western Civilization to forcefully eliminate the religion of Islam from the face of the planet, but at least it can try to stop unwittingly arming this evil.
you think?? Only men can teach men how to be non violent. Your gender needs education...so why would it be so harmful for this young girl to have had a chance to be educated? Only a coward kills to make his point. No power has ever stayed in power for very long using violence....and it never will. So you men have much to do in teaching men to become more equal and less fearful of the rights of all!
Nice sexist genralization, D'Anna. Women like yourself need to improve their educational levels. As for us men having "much to do in teaching men to become more equal and less fearful of the rights of all!", well, you can lead a psycho to peace but you can't make him adopt it.
OH MY GOD! What courage.....what an inspiration....a world leader in the making.....Malala, a short-hand for a huge voice for all that is decent....from just one person with tears in my eyes.....
Jeez, get a grip. World leader? Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
rbjk0174s---This girl IS a world leader. She is an inspiration to not only Muslim girls and women, but others oppressed in other parts of the world. Her courage is/will be recognized in those places. So don't say "get a grip." Use your mind a bit.
Malala Yousafzai is a hero. She is more inspiring than all the politicians in Washington combined. Talk about overcoming religious hatred and evil terrorism.
I actually wish they wouldn't post stories about here. Only for her safety. While being exposed like this, it really infuriates the Taliban, and will up their efforts to take her out in the U.K. Tough situation to be in. You don't wan't the Taliban to shut her up, let her live her dream, keep speaking out, but by reporting on it, it just gives more flame for the Taliban.
Hmmm
I say keep reporting it. Tell everyone how well she's doing, tell them that they failed. Make sure they know the world sees them as the cowards they are. We shouldn't cater to their craziness and keep quiet just because they want the rest of the world to be quiet.
She fought for what she believed in, she didn't believe in keeping quiet. If only all of us could be so brave to face that kind of adversity at such a young age. The only way to improve the situation in her country is for people like her to speak up and expose all of these things that are wrong. Staying quiet is exactly what the Taliban wants. They don't want the people of Pakistan to know that girls can go to school and be educated. They don't want them to know they can be more than just a woman who does her husband's bidding.
I do fear for her safety, and I hope precautions are being taken. But I say good for her. I'm glad they're reporting that she's returning to school, because that's exactly what the Taliban didn't want.
I very much agree. She not only did not die, she refuses to give up her future life.
Let the Taliban be infuriated.The Taliban reminds me of some politicians in Washington.The Taliban are male cowards who are afraid of the light of education for the women in their country.That teen has more courage than the entire Taliban combined.The Taliban should just grab their bearskins and knucklewalk back into their caves for a 100,000 years or so....
It's her choice. If she wishes to speak out, it is incumbent on the rest of us to do whatever we can to make sure her speech is protected. If she wishes to be silent, that is her choice too.
If the stories stop coming, the Taliban has won and everything this little girl has gone through to champion her cause was in vain. The Taliban's very existence is dependent on silencing their opposition.
The more publicity, the better. She has a strong family (and most rarely in the Middle East, a FATHER) supporting her. The photo of the two of them together speaks volumes to the world.
Keep it up.
@ "amediamogul." Oh, we need more stories do we? Well, let's make some more stories up. Yeah, that's the ticket. With all these endless wars there should be plenty of opportunities. Her photo "speaks volumes to the world." Maybe to your little world. Love yourself much there, you little narcissist you?
Lol! Really? What US politicians are cutting people's heads off? What US politician is denying any women here the right to an education? What a dumb comparison. I think you're getting carried away with being a man bending over backwards to be liked by females.
I think you have deep, dark, negative issues.
I wish her and her family the very best. She is a role model for all people -- regardless of gender, age, religion, nationality ...
(Isn't it a shame that her friends need protection because of the evil that exists in Pakistan.)
Stay safe Malala and God Bless.
It is nice to see Malala fully recovered and back to school. But do we realize, how much it has been politicized? The good deed was overshadowed by all the publicity and photo ops. Why are we so blind towards all the "Malalas", "Malalas' fathers, brothers and sisters" being killed by Talibans and their associates in Pakistan, especially in the cities of Karachi and Quetta? Pakistan is the same country where Malala comes from. The whole world is watching but I haven't heard any voice against this genocide.
She is an amazing girl and an inspiration world wide. Be safe, young one!
Power to the Progressive People of Pakistan... Down with the Conservative Taliban.
Imagine no religion .... How dare so called religious people shoot an innocent child who just wants to be educated.
The Taliban who shot her are devils, if there are such things, and deserve to burn in hell, if there is such a place.
The Taliban needs to be exterminated like the vermin they are, only cowards would go after a 15 year old girl.
If she really wanted to make a change she would denounce her religion which is part of the problem.
I mean no disrespect to the commenter, but I think this comment is out of line. That is not the spirit and the gift she offers. She embraces her heritage and her religion with her dress and her scarf and her devotion. With that as part of her energy, we are all the better for it. It is not her religion, but hateful, vengeful, mean people who are the root of this evil.
Maybe she practices her religion on how it's really supposed to be perceived, peacefully.
That comment is so out of line New Gawker, are you entitled to practice your religion or lack of it? Why shouldn't she. It is not her religion that is the problem it is those that dont practice it the way its intended to be practiced that is the problem.
New Gawker <<<~~~~~~~>>> >>> >>> Does she not have the right to disagree with you on that ???
I think that the women in countries where the taliban operate should be given guns
As attractive as your solution may be at first blush, it doesn't really do anything. Most of these women are accepting of what they have been told by the men/leaders.
Malala has absolutely the right idea. The answer is education, education, education and more education. Historically, that has been the most successful way to obtain women's rights.
When will we over-educated, peace loving, liberal people start to understand - the Taliban and muslimes in general do not respect human life, intelligence or civilization? We are in an existential struggle, either civilization will triumph or the muslimes will drag the world back to the stone age. It takes two sides to make peace, but only one side to make war. Better to fight evil where it breeds than to wait until it takes root in your back yards.
Your mistake is including Muslims in general... They also want to live in peace.. It is the radical extremists such as the Taliban and Al Quida that are the enemy...
Because of the far right religious zealots in this country that would impose their radical and hate filled beliefs on everyone, you cannot lump all Christians into their backward thinking.
Boy, you really are a naive soul. Muslims follow a religion that is completely for the oppression of others, and it is completely the opposite of Western philosophy. We cannot live w them, the safest bet is for them to live on their side of the planet. Likewise, I think we should stay out of their business, no humanitarian aid, no invasion, let them live with their own religion and culture. Eff Joh Lennon,! There was a dude who couldn't come to terms w his homosexuality and always b!tching about the US, a country that brought him plenty of wealth and refuge from his boring England! He should've thrown the eff out, there was Japan just in case he didn't want to return to England. Your hero was an idiot.
Kind of funny that Malala is also of the same religion. She doesn't seem to be oppressing anyone.
I love how education was brought up in this thread yet there's nothing but a glaring lack of it within the discussion.
That's the best news of today!! Good for you, girl. Keep up all of your good work.
Love to you....
God bless and keep her and her family safe from harm. She definately is an inspiration!
Muslims will be the majority in europe in thirty years and sharia will be the law. So she will have to face the same thing all over again. Maybe in less time they way they multiply.
Malala, you are woman and we hear you roar!! You are a hero and inspiration to women everywhere!!
Good for you, girl. Follow your dreams and stay safe!
Nice going Tracy Connor tell the Taliban exactly where she is located. wow
I agree, but her where abouts would have been found. Malala is not one to hide from her fears, she faces them straight on, and will do whatever she has to in order to make a change.
Journalistic features like this are done with the subject(s)' consent. Clearly this girl is not running from what she has chosen to stand for.
The Taliban is looking to incite fear. The best way to fight them is to continue living life.
@amediamogul. "A Media Mogul." Gee. Can I throw up now? This is not journalism. Just propaganda.
An Afgan friend told me that the Taliban are nothing more than dictators like Hitler that are using religion to take over the peoples lives. He said if you ask many of them (the Taliban) they don't even know the Koran and most have never read it because they cannot read! Ignorance is not bliss, it is horror for this young girl.
Ty- Your comment is one of the most intelligent ones here. What is worse is when extremists that can read and call themselves clerics and then interpret the Koran to those that cannot read. I have spent time in Afganistan and I agree with your Afghan friend with his assessment of the Taliban.
suck up that propaganda you mindless sheep.
People who speak like you are also sheep, you just belong to a different flock.
Malala we need more young people with the drive for an education like you. And for the ones that are fortunate enough to get an education to take advantage of what is being given to them. You are deserving of the Peace Prize 10 times fold again. I'm glad that you are still here to continue your fight.
Don't ever go back to that miserable country of yours. You can effect change from abroad.
She and her father are patriots...You on the other hand are another ignorant individual who chooses to generalize a country of 180 million based on the actions of a few people. Let me remind you that the group responsible is sitting in Afghanistan and the US has done NOTHING to capture them. You always tell Pakistan to do more but the US doesn't have any better handle on the situation. Stop the goddamn scapegoating...
Like there are no Taliban in Pakistan? Give me a break.