Just one month after 16-year-old education
activist Malala Yousafzai released her memoir,
thousands of Pakistani private schools have
banned students from reading it.
A chairman for the All Pakistan Private Schools
Federation said his group is banning Yousafzai's
book because "through this book, she became
a tool in the hands of the Western powers."
(Via Al Jazeera)
After a Taliban member shot the teen activist
in the head more than one year ago, she has
risen to global fame for her inspirational
speeches about education.
(Via France 24)
She's delivered that message through a speech
to the United Nations and in an appearance
on "The Daily Show."
"Education is the power for women, and that's
why the terrorists are afraid of education.
They do not want women to get an education
because then women would become more powerful."
(Via Comedy Central)
And her story earned her a meeting with President
Obama as well as a Nobel Peace Prize nomination.
(Via The Telegraph)
But in her homeland, that attention has come
with criticism.
Some conspiracy theorists claim her shooting
was staged by the West to create a heroic
poster-girl for anti-Pakistan propaganda.
(Via ABC)
In Pakistan, the majority of children in school
attend private facilities due to the poor
quality of public schools.
The decision to ban Yousafzai's book affects
more than 40,000 schools in Pakistan.
(Via The New York Times)
The group said the ban was mainly motivated
by Yousafzai failing to show enough respect
for Islam.
When she addressed the Prophet Muhammad's
name in the book, she didn't use the abbreviation
"PBUH," which means "peace be upon him."
Many parts of the Muslim world consider that
addition essential.
(Via Parade)
The group also criticized Yousafzai's mentions
of Salman Rushdie, citing the novelist's controversial
statements about Muhammad in one of his books.
(Via The Guardian)
The group is calling on the Pakistani government
to ban the book from all school curriculum.
But the government so far has remained neutral
on Yousafzai's message.
(Via PBS)
Yousafzai has responded to criticism before,
saying she is not a tool of the West and that
she is proud to be a Pakistani.
