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LONDON: Malala Yousafzai hit back at claims that she has become a figure of the West, insisting she was proud to be a Pakistani.
The 16-year-old, who was shot by the Taliban for championing girls' right to an education, claimed she retained the support of people in her homeland, and reiterated her desire to enter Pakistani politics.
The activist was shot in the head on her school bus on October 9 last year for speaking out against the Taliban.
She was flown for specialist care in Britain, where she has continued her education, while she has been feted and honoured in the West.
On Thursday, she won the European Union's prestigious Sakharov human rights prize, while US President Barack Obama welcomed her to the White House on Friday.
Asked in a BBC television interview broadcast on Sunday about some people in Pakistan thinking she was a “figure of the West” and “a Westerner now”, she said: “My father says that education is neither Eastern or Western. Education is education: it's the right of everyone."
“The thing is that the people of Pakistan have supported me. They don't think of me as Western. I am a daughter of Pakistan and I am proud that I am a Pakistani."
She added that, “on the day I was shot, and on the next day, people raised the banners of 'I am Malala'. They did not say 'I am Taliban'."
“They support me and they are encouraging me to move forward and to continue my campaign for girls' education.”
Highlighting the problem of education in the midst of the Syrian conflict, Malala said “we want to help every child in every country that we can,” she said.
“We will start from Pakistan and Afghanistan and Syria now, especially because they are suffering the most and they are on the top that need our help."
Talking about her future, she declared “later on in my life I want to do politics and I want to become a leader and to bring the change in Pakistan. I want to be a politician in Pakistan because I don't want to be a politician in a country which is already developed.”
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Comments (28) Closed
Oct 13, 2013 06:41pm
Be careful Mala - from Mount Everest climbers to Nobel laureates, from its scientists to its artists, the nation does not know how to respect them, protect them or reward them but it certainly know how to hate them and extinguish those flames.
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Oct 13, 2013 06:50pm
I am proud of you Malala and do strongly believe that you are not under the influence of some powerful vested interests. We would definitely support you and the cause for which you have sacrificed. But people here in Khyber Pukhtoonkhwa have strong reasons to believe that what you are doing and the way you are being treated in the west is not fair to all those innocents who have been killed or badly injured in the war against terrorism. There are thousands of people like you in the northern part of Pakistan, who have been standing against Talibans and their ferocious activities since long for just one principle " Islam does not allow killing of innocent people and that talibans are following a wrong path". But nobody, from the west, has approached them with such a vitality as you have been treating with. Why don't the west bestowed this group of thousands of innocent people with a single award of peace and love? So I hope you are sincere and a good and kind hearted person and would add these innocent people in your discussions and talks with the west. We love you Malala and stand by you. God bless you.
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Oct 13, 2013 07:04pm
Heard Malala interview on BBC this morning with Andrew Marr. Bright intelligent girl. Constructive thinking that is dubbed as Westernism in Pakistan. She was very clear in her thinking. Her reason for living in Pakistan should be applauded. It being Improvement of Pakistan culturally, educationally.
I wish there were many more Malala's in Pakistan. Solution of all kind of depreviation in the country . Wish her happiness and prosperity.
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Oct 13, 2013 08:17pm
The fact is...she is a western figure/puppet...nothing more than that....west has intentionally highlighted this girl for defaming Taliban and islam
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Oct 13, 2013 08:16pm
Malala a Western puppet? Good grief, I wonder where she got that idea from?
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Oct 13, 2013 08:41pm
Today she seems consistent with words. She was born to be a "Leader" that leads by example. Will she remain on same or be influenced by special interest groups or lobbies? Only time will tell.
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Oct 13, 2013 08:55pm
Why don't you and your father both come back. Many are anxiously waiting to make you PM and your father a President.
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Oct 13, 2013 09:18pm
a politician? and that too a Pakistani one? Don't we already have enough?
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Oct 13, 2013 09:57pm
Indeed, you are already a Pakistani politician by saying that. most of them says they are no puppets but in reality exactly the opposite! Give yourself 10 years, if the western support stays the same and Pakistani people stays deceived as they are right now. no doubt you will be a leader too!
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Oct 13, 2013 10:00pm
new darling of western media
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Oct 13, 2013 10:00pm
new darling of western media
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Oct 14, 2013 12:04am
Some media in print and electronic form, are creating ripple in the society by " Malala " phenomenon.... one way or the other they are bent upon portraying her as a negative entity. too bad.
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Oct 14, 2013 12:27am
We feel proud that a talented girl like you was born in Pakistan. We pray for your health and long life. Those who allrge you to be puppet of West don't know what is patriotism.
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Oct 14, 2013 01:15am
I'm so saddened and shocked to hear and see the reaction of some our country men on how they have been blaming this innocent child who is not only a survivor but a brave girl who stood in front of malicious and sick religious extremist.
A request to those who are in doubt , please don't judge if you are not sure. This could have been your child.
Malala we wish you all the best , you are the bravest girl in the world.
Regards, Shehryar and like minded.
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Oct 14, 2013 01:46am
One day Malala will be Benazir Bhutto of Pakistan. Insha Allah.
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Oct 14, 2013 01:56am
People who hate malala are actually those Pakistanis who are ashamed of what Pakistan has become however they don't want the rest of the world to know that they are incapable of changing things in Pakistan.
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Oct 14, 2013 03:11am
Is Malala being trained in the UK to be the next leader of Pakistan?
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Oct 14, 2013 03:37am
Don`t worry about what people say there will always be people who distort things and love to criticize people for the sake of criticizing, just keep on doing the work you intend to do and it is in the west that you will get the modern facilities to continue your work and people will make things easy for you..Think twice before becoming a politician in Pakistan,
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Oct 14, 2013 03:49am
@Salim Khan:
That's a question for the "West" to answer, not Malala.
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Oct 14, 2013 04:48am
I hope Pakistani in general look at this girl in a positive manner. Imagine she had a bullet in her head, and she survived in the west, and west gave her honor and respect for her stand, the bullet was by the so called Pakistani Muslims. I see some people still looking for something negative in this girl. I pray for her, she still has the spirit and will to go on.
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Oct 14, 2013 04:50am
Malala Yousafzai was on Jon Stewart show prior to meeting with President Obama.
I wish you all to check out October 8, 2013.
She is an amazing person; she is articulate, poised, and confident. i wish you all can just enjoy her patriotism and love of land of Swat. I wish some of this passion and patriotism rubs on our politicians too.
Her speech at the UN was better than our other leaders. She is a proud Pakistani and she is only 16-17 years old. She was shot in the Head by some deranged individuals who believe that education is bad for girls. I wish their mothers were educated, they would have known better.
Malala still believes that talking instead of fighting is the solution to handle Taliban problem. For me this was really strange as she is from Swat and she is not seeking revenge. And that speaks volumes for her parents and her upbringing.
Pakistanis are unfortunate not to have many Malala in their fold; one reason could be the people like Mr. Dasti.
here is a link for her oct 8 interview
http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes/tue-october-8-2013-malala-yousafzai
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Oct 14, 2013 04:55am
It is most unfortunate that Malala is being dubbed as a tool of West.The Pakistani daily slogans of Western people as enemies of Muslims and Islam is totally against the teachings of Islam.
Allah says in the Holy Quran:
O mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). Verily the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most righteous of you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things). Holy Quran Surah al-Hujurat (49:13)
It is clear that Allah wants Muslims to live in peace with all mankind and not just live in peace with Muslims only although today Muslims are the greatest enemies of Muslims as seen from situation in a Muslim country Pakistan. Mosques are being bombed by Muslims and Muslims performing their Salaat are being killed. But the Pakistanis continue to blame and bash the West for all problems in Pakistan. Pakistanis are unaware that Islam is the second largest religion in America and growing by leaps and bonds Here are the quotes to supports this:
"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in America, a guide and pillar of stability for many of our people..." HILLARY CLINTON, Los Angeles Times, May 31, 1996, p.3
Already more than a billion-people strong, Islam is the world
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Oct 14, 2013 04:56am
(To continue from previous post)
"Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the United States..." NEW YORK TIMES, Feb 21, 1989, p.1
Moslems are the world's fastest-growing group..." USA TODAY, The population reference bureau, Feb. 17, 1989, p.4A
"There are more Muslims in North America than Jews Now." Dan Rathers, ABCNEWS
"Islam is the fastest growing religion in North America." TIMES MAGAZINE
"Islam continues to grow in America, and no one can doubt that!" CNN, December 15, 1995
"The religion of Islam is growing faster than any other religion in the world." MIKE WALLACE, 60 MINUTES
"Five to 6 million strong, Muslims in America already outnumber Presbyterians, Episcopalians, and Mormons, and they are more numerous than Quakers, Unitarians, Seventh-day Adventists, Mennonites, Jehovah's Witnesses, and Christian Scientists, combined. Many demographers say Islam has overtaken Judaism as the country's second-most commonly practiced religion; others say it is in the passing lane." JOHAN BLANK, USNEWS (7/20/98)
"In fact, religion experts say Islam is the second-largest religion in the United States... Islam has 5 million to 6 million members, followed by Judaism, with approximately 4.5 million..... And Islam is believed to be fastest-growing religion in the country, with half its expansion coming from new immigrants and the other half from conversions." By ELSA C. ARNETT Knight-Ridder News Service
Pakistanis should realize that if the Americans or West were enemies of Islam and Muslims you could never see the rapid growth of Islam in America or West.
May Allah grant wisdom to Pakistanis.
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Oct 14, 2013 05:56am
Only Taliban sympathizers doubt Malala's sincerity. They have no problem with Taliban killing thousands of innocent Pakistani's. They get worried when somebody points this out.
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Oct 14, 2013 03:01pm
Malala,
Those who doubt your intentions are misguided people who are more willing to believe the narratives from a bunch of thieves dressing themselves up in islamic clothing, but thieves nonetheless, as opposed to a simple school girl who asked why education was forbidden under Talib rule.
There is one Malala's critics have in common, they themselves have done nothing for Pakistan or the poor, and they never will. They are more interested in measuring the size of beards than schooling the millions who cannot afford to go to school.
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Oct 14, 2013 09:37pm
Yes you are thats why your giving such a statement.
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Oct 14, 2013 10:48pm
I truly admire Malala, but I'm failing to see how a 16 year old enrolled in full time school can spend so many days away on public visits across continents.
And I often wonder how her classmates react to her? Surely they can't treat her as a normal adolescent, given she's making speeches to a world audience, for instance? She's more than a celebrity child could potentially be. I hope she will manage to get herself an education in the midst of her enthusiasm for standing up for girls' education.
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Oct 15, 2013 08:36am
@ali jafar:
Typical Taliban sympathizer (or should I say agent). Howcome you're using infidel technology? Go home, do your miswaak, beat your wife and comb your beard. That's all you're good for :-)
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