Afghan students pray for Malala’s recovery
Children pray for the early recovery of Malala Yousufzai next to her photograph as they pay tribute. — Photo by AFP
KABUL: Schools in Afghanistan opened Saturday with special prayers for the quick recovery of Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl shot in the head by Taliban, in a move officials said was to show solidarity with her.
The Pakistani Taliban shot the teenage rights activist in the head on her school bus Tuesday, to avenge her campaigns for the right to an education in the militants’ former stronghold of Swat.
The shooting of the 14-year-old activist was denounced around the world.
“To show sympathy to Malala Yousufzai around 9.5 million students all over the country in 15,500 schools and education centres offered prayers for her quick recovery,” education ministry spokesman Amanullah Iman told AFP.
“The students also expressed their solidarity to their sister (Malala) because the attack on her was an attack on education,” he said.
“Malala is just a girl and student like us, she shouldn’t have been shot,” Freshta, a 10 grade pupil told AFP.
“Today we recited Quran and prayed for her recovery,” she said.
The show of solidarity to Malala comes two days after armed men attacked a girls’ school in relatively peaceful Bamyan province in central Afghanistan, causing considerable damage but no injuries, official said.
The Taliban government, removed from power by a US-led invasion in 2001, had enforced a strict ban on girls attending schools.
There are fears that gains made by women and girls since the Taliban were ousted from power in a US-led invasion in 2001 could be eroded when international troops pull out by 2014.
I thank the students of Afghanistan for showing support to the courageous and unlikely defeated girl. I know they have been suffering for decades from these barbarians
Our dear Afghan & other friends all over the world, thanks for praying for early recovery of Malala & two other girls shot by cowardly criminals, acting against The Teaching of Islam; Islam orders all men & women to get education.
Malala Yousafzai & two other girls are our brave daughters, who, without fear fighting for their & all others’ rights, which according to Hadhees of Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.) all Pakistanis and Muslims commend. And we all condemn this barbarous act against these innocent Angels.
But shooting of Malala Yousafzai & two other girls’ is a means towards the calculated goals to stop protests against a blasphamous movie and prepare Pakistani public for military operation in Waziristan etc., etc., and learning from Libya’s Ghazaffi’s fate our ruling coalition is willing to make President Obama happy.
This is really touching and brings tears as the fellow female students equally threatened in Afghanistan praying and wishing for recovery of malala and showing courage to attend risking their life.
I thank the students of Afghanistan for showing solidarity with the girl who wants to get education and for this reason she was shot by militants. This is very sad and horrible.
Please correct the name ,its Malalai not malala . Im a pathan and know the name being displayed as malala in the news is not correct, it’s malalai , even her father has objected on this. Her name is malalai yusufzai. Thank you.
Malala…you are a TRUE hero to all that have come to know your name and to hear your story. I am proud to stand next to you than to all the presidents, past and present. My wish for you is for a speedy recovery, the very best for you and your family and to take the fight to those cowards with Allah’s blessings. A true Iron Lady and a beacon of hope to the millions without a voice. I have never met a hero before, until now. A true leader and a sister to all. Stay strong and stay positive. The very best is yet to come.
bilal
What a fantastic opportunity for Indian students to show solidarity.
two more girls were also injured along with malala. their parents can not afford medical treatment. please help them also. they too are in urgent need of medical treatment.. their parents claim no body is bothered about them. government should provide free medical facilities and show sympathy towards them. they are also daughters of pakistan like malala . pray for early recovery of malala and two poor injuredgirlsby gun shots
It is my understanding that the president has directed free medical treatment for all three of them – hopefully the news in today’s Dawn is accurate.