Nobel Peace Prize winning author Malala Yousafzai has received another major award with her portrait being formally unveiled at the old college of the University of Oxford Lady Margaret Hall.
This is a major honor, as Malala is the second Pakistani woman in history to have her portrait hung inside the college, after the previous Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.
A big crowd of notable educationists, academicians, and family members were present in the unveiling ceremony. The portrait is a lasting legacy of the global campaign by Malala against the education and human rights of girls.
At the event, the sponsor of the portrait Hamid Ismail described the installation as a moment of high pride not only to Malala, but to the whole country of Pakistan.
Malala’s Call to Action
In her speech to the reporters on the occasion, Malala took the opportunity to draw attention to the plight of Afghanistan. She pressed on the international community to diplomatically pressure Taliban and said that states could not afford to have normal relationship with a regime that goes against fundamental rights.
The prohibition of female education is contrary to the actual teachings of Islam, according to Malala.
She underlined that the Taliban is literally oppressing their own population by depriving women of their right to study and the right to work. In her speech, Malala specifically addressed Muslim countries to own up to these deeds that are not Islamic, and openly criticize them, reminding them that the pursuit of knowledge is one of the main principles of Islam.
Speaking of the present situation in Afghanistan, Malala said that it is extremely dangerous, but the Taliban have left a dark cloud on the future of Afghan children, however, the spirit of resistance is not dead.
She pointed out that regardless of the prohibition, fearless Afghan girls still access education in secret schools and online courses. To demonstrate her uncompromising support, Malala encouraged Pakistanis and the rest of the world to raise their voices against backward policies of the Taliban.
