Fears blight 'Malala Day' in schoolgirl's hometown
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Pakistan marked "Malala Day" on Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taleban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant her schoolmates could not honour her in public. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pakistani students stand next to a portrait of Malala Yousufzai as they attend a meeting organized by South Asian Women in media to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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A Pakistani civil society activist weeps as she carries a photograph of Pakistan's child activist Malala Yousafzai during a rally to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore on Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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A Pakistani student writes a message on a placard with a photograph of Pakistan's child activist Malala Yousafzai to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore on Nov 10, 2012. Pakistan marked "Malala Day" on Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taleban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant schoolmates could not honour her in public. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Clay lamps burn next to the poster of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai, placed by women supporters of Pakistan People's Party during a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Women hold posters of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai at a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. Hundreds of Pakistani students and human right activists are observing a day of appreciation for 15-year-old Pakistani girl who is being treated in Britain after being shot by Taleban. -- PHOTO: AP
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Indian teachers give the finishing touches to a "Malala Rangoli" at H B Kapadia New High School in Ahmedabad on Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Indian astudeents surround a "Malala Rangoli" at H B Kapadia New High School in Ahmedabad on Nov 10, 2012. World Malala was observed on Saturday to honour Pakistani child activist Malala Yousafzai who was shot by Taleban gunmen. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Pakistani students and teachers hold posters of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai while they take part in a demonstration in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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A woman holds a poster of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai during a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
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Children and women supporting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party hold potraits of Malala Yousufzai in Karachi Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Children of supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party hold potraits of Malala Yousufzai in Karachi Nov 10, 2012. UN officials declared "Malala Day" one month after 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai and two of her classmates were shot by the Pakistan Taleban. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Pakistan marked "Malala Day" on Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taleban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant her schoolmates could not honour her in public. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pakistani students stand next to a portrait of Malala Yousufzai as they attend a meeting organized by South Asian Women in media to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
A Pakistani civil society activist weeps as she carries a photograph of Pakistan's child activist Malala Yousafzai during a rally to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore on Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
A Pakistani student writes a message on a placard with a photograph of Pakistan's child activist Malala Yousafzai to mark "Malala Day" in Lahore on Nov 10, 2012. Pakistan marked "Malala Day" on Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taleban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant schoolmates could not honour her in public. -- PHOTO: AFP
Clay lamps burn next to the poster of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai, placed by women supporters of Pakistan People's Party during a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Women hold posters of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai at a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. Hundreds of Pakistani students and human right activists are observing a day of appreciation for 15-year-old Pakistani girl who is being treated in Britain after being shot by Taleban. -- PHOTO: AP
Indian teachers give the finishing touches to a "Malala Rangoli" at H B Kapadia New High School in Ahmedabad on Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AFP
Indian astudeents surround a "Malala Rangoli" at H B Kapadia New High School in Ahmedabad on Nov 10, 2012. World Malala was observed on Saturday to honour Pakistani child activist Malala Yousafzai who was shot by Taleban gunmen. -- PHOTO: AFP
Pakistani students and teachers hold posters of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai while they take part in a demonstration in Karachi, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
A woman holds a poster of 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai during a demonstration in Islamabad, Pakistan on Saturday, Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: AP
Children and women supporting the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party hold potraits of Malala Yousufzai in Karachi Nov 10, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Children of supporters of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) party hold potraits of Malala Yousufzai in Karachi Nov 10, 2012. UN officials declared "Malala Day" one month after 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai and two of her classmates were shot by the Pakistan Taleban. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
MINGORA, Pakistan (AFP) - Pakistan marked "Malala Day" on Saturday on a global day of support for the teenager shot by the Taleban for promoting girls' education, but in her home town security fears meant her schoolmates could not honour her in public.
Taleban hitmen shot Malala Yousafzai on her school bus a month ago in Mingora in Pakistan's north-western Swat Valley, in a cold-blooded murder attempt for the "crime" of campaigning for girls' rights to go to school.
Miraculously the 15-year-old survived and her courage has won the hearts of millions around the world, prompting the United Nations to declare Saturday a "global day of action" for her. People around the world held vigils and demonstrations honouring Malala and calling for the 32 million girls worldwide who are denied education to be allowed to go to school.
Demonstrations backing Malala took place in Islamabad, Karachi, the eastern city of Lahore and Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, and Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf saluted Malala's courage. But in Mingora, the threat of further Taleban reprisals cast a fearful shadow, and students at Malala's Khushal Public School were forced to honour her in private.
