Masala
Why was Malala Yousafzai targeted by the Taliban?
A young girl; Malala Yousafzai was shot in October 2012 by Taliban forces for going to school even though The Constitution of Pakistan “obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children”.
Malala from Migora Town in Pakistan was a pupil, educational activist and the first eleven year old to write an anonymous blog detailing life under Taliban rule. She insisted on her own school attendance and had the courage to speak out about the values of education for girls. The Taliban, believing in an extreme form of Islam say women should not be educated; they treat women brutally, banning them from working outside the home, doing any activity without a male family escort and from studying. Therefore everything that Malala stood for posed as a threat to the Taliban.
The Taliban have targeted school buildings, pupils and teachers in an effort to cease the education of girls. Their actions cause immense fear within families leading to the closure of the schools as they are too scared to attend with many that have been blown up and left in ruins. Education for many people in Pakistan’s north-western provinces is a route out of poverty; a chance to a better life. Malala had the courage to speak out for this leading to a nomination for the International Children’s Peace award; spreading the word around the world. The Taliban needed to ‘silence’ Malala as her aims and ambitions not only gave hope and courage but they spoke against the strict Islamic laws the Taliban abide by. Laws which make it obligatory to kill such a person.
A young girl; Malala Yousafzai was shot in October 2012 by Taliban forces for going to school even though The Constitution of Pakistan “obligates the state to provide free and compulsory quality education to children”.
Malala from Migora Town in Pakistan was a pupil, educational activist and the first eleven year old to write an anonymous blog detailing life under Taliban rule. She insisted on her own school attendance and had the courage to speak out about the values of education for girls. The Taliban, believing in an extreme form of Islam say women should not be educated; they treat women brutally, banning them from working outside the home, doing any activity without a male family escort and from studying. Therefore everything that Malala stood for posed as a threat to the Taliban.
The Taliban have targeted school buildings, pupils and teachers in an effort to cease the education of girls. Their actions cause immense fear within families leading to the closure of the schools as they are too scared to attend with many that have been blown up and left in ruins. Education for many people in Pakistan’s north-western provinces is a route out of poverty; a chance to a better life. Malala had the courage to speak out for this leading to a nomination for the International Children’s Peace award; spreading the word around the world. The Taliban needed to ‘silence’ Malala as her aims and ambitions not only gave hope and courage but they spoke against the strict Islamic laws the Taliban abide by. Laws which make it obligatory to kill such a person.