A Pakistani girl who survived being
shot by the Taliban because she advocated education for girls has won
the Liberty Medal from the National Constitution Centre in Philadelphia.
Malala Yousafzai was just 15 when she was shot in the head while
returning from school in Mingora, Pakistan, in October 2012. She had
angered the fundamentalist Muslim group by writing about life under the
Taliban for the BBC, and arguing that girls should be allowed to pursue
an education. “It’s an honour to be awarded the Liberty Medal,”
Yousafzai, now 17, said yesterday. “I accept this award on behalf of all
the children around the world who are struggling to get an education”.
The medal has been awarded annually since 1989, when Polish
Solidarity founder Lech Walesa received it first. Since then, recipients
have included Muhammad Ali, former President Jimmy Carter, and, last
year, then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Yousafzai will receive
the award at a ceremony at the centre on October 21.
No comments:
Post a Comment