Malala Yousafzai is a Pakistani female activist who rose to prominence after being shot by the Taliban in 2012 in retaliation for her work demanding that girls be granted the right to an education. She was born on July 12, 1997, in Mingora, Swat, Pakistan, to Sunni Muslim parents ToorPekaiYousafzai and ZiauddinYousafzai. Malala was named after a well-known Pashtun poet and warrior woman. Malala began advocating for education rights in 2008, and a year later she was a trainee and peer educator in the Institute for War and Peace Reporting’s Open Minds Pakistan youth program.
Malala translates as ‘grief-stricken.’
Malala began blogging anonymously about her life growing up under Taliban rule in 2009. She was 11 years old and was well aware of the danger. GulMakai was her alias.
When Malala started blogging, the Taliban had banned women from shopping, girls from going to school, and music and television from being broadcast in the Swat Valley.
To prevent girls from completing their education, the Taliban blew up hundreds of schools.
Malala’s blog was shut down on March 12, 2009. She had returned to school because the Taliban had allowed girls to return.
After the blog ended, a New York Times reporter approached Malala and her father about filming a documentary.
In May, fighting resumed, and Malala was separated from her father and sent to live in the countryside.
After criticizing militants at a press conference, the Taliban threatened Malala’s father.
It was announced in July that it was safe to return home.
Malala’s profile grew, and she became a frequent Facebook user. On social media, she began to receive threats.
In 2012, the Taliban met and agreed to assassinate Malala.
Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban on a bus after taking an exam on October 9, 2012. She was only 15 years old.
The bullet passed through her head and neck before becoming lodged in her shoulder near her spinal cord. Her life was saved by a five-hour operation.
Malala awoke from her coma on October 17, 2012, in a hospital in Birmingham, England, where she had been transported for treatment.
On November 8, a photograph of Malala sitting up in bed was taken.
Malala was released from the hospital on January 3rd to recover with her family in the Midlands.
Malala underwent reconstructive skull surgery on February 2.
Following Malala’s attempted murder, over 2 million people signed the petition for the Right to Education campaign. It resulted in the ratification of Pakistan’s first Right to Education bill.
Malala Day was declared on July 12, 2013, her 16th birthday. Malala spoke at the United Nations on this day to advocate for universal access to education.
Malala Yousafzai received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014 for her activism (co-recipient). She was 17 years old at the time, making her the youngest Nobel laureate.
Malala Yousafzai has received numerous honors from around the world and continues to advocate for children’s rights, equal access to education, and women’s rights.
