World jolted by brutal shooting of advocate for girls’ education.
by Mehdi Rizvi
The attempted assassination of Malala Yousufzai, 14 year old Pakistani student, on a school bus in Northern Western Pakistan, has jolted the conscience of the world. The crime reflects the alarming situation Pakistani women now face, as they pass through a terrible crisis of re-establishing identity and existence in their own country, since very conservative religious/political groups took over the Swat Valley in 2008.
Those opposed to girls' education mercilessly targeted Malala as an activist for girls’ education. Not only was she on her way to school to acquire knowledge, she advocated vigorously for all girls’ right to attend school. The Taliban claimed credit (if you can call it that) for having shot her and two classmates, on a bus full of children. They declared that if she survives, they will come after her and her family again.
As imams across Pakistan are saying, acquiring knowledge actually is compulsory for all Muslim men and women. Women are mothers of the nation and mother's lap is the first nursery for an infant. Educated women have healthier children, along with whatever else they do with their learning. As Malala once said, “Education is not a gift for girls, it is their right."
Malala is a true follower of prophet Mohammed (praised be his name). She is trying to establish his teachings by standing firmly against the strong winds of extremism and thoughtless interpretations of Islamic faith. Ironically, those who claim to be flag bearers of Islamic teachings are thirsty for her blood. They are following the path of violence by killing those who want to promote awareness, education and knowledge in Muslim women.
Despite living under constant threat Malala found the courage and the strength to keep fighting a holy war against ignorance and illiteracy.
Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the famous educator of pre-Partition India, established the first Aligarh Muslim College in 1875 CE, to promote modern education in Muslim men and women, despite opposition from conservative segments of Muslim society. Now, after more than 137 years of Aligrah movement, Malala Yousufzai is fighting for her life in a hospital bed, and for the courage, determination and strength to continue her mission, spreading Sir Syed’s message in letter and spirit.
Malala is receiving the best possible treatment. People in Pakistan and around the world are praying for her complete recovery. After last Friday’s prayers, there were rallies throughout Pakistan to support Malala — and Malala's campaign for women's education rights. Government leaders around the world have risen to praise Malala's devotion and determination to bringing women out of darkness and unawareness, including Rona Ambrose, the Canadian Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women.
Whether she survives or loses her life (a sacrifice she was willing to accept), Malala has already become a sign of freedom for Pakistani women.
As an advocate of girls’ education, Malala has become a beacon of knowledge that has brightened the path of progress for the future generations of Pakistani women. She is very outspoken against those who oppose girls’ right to education. Once she said, “Forces can stop me from going to school but they can’t stop me from learning." She spoke out when extremists forbade people in her area to watch TVs in their own houses. Malala risked revenge by saying publicly that women have the right to have some entertainment, freedom and personal privacy.
Despite living under constant threat, to her family as well as herself, Malala found the courage and the strength to keep fighting a holy war against ignorance and illiteracy — to wake up Pakistani women through education, so they could think for themselves and free themselves from newly-imposed restrictions that attempted to push them back to something very much like Stone Age culture.
To be so bold, fearless and mature at this tender age is remarkable. Malala’s love for education has given her the strength to break the silence against immeasurable violence. At a terrible personal cost, she has taught the Pakistani nation the real meaning of courage — not to suppress women, but to give them the power of education and a chance to live dignified and respectable lives.
In this critical situation, whether she survives or loses her life (a sacrifice she was willing to accept), she has already become a sign of freedom for Pakistani women — and her courageous stand very likely marks a turning point on the issue of Pakistani girls’ access to education. Malala deserves to be awarded the highest civilian award by the Government of Pakistan for her bravery, courage and steadfastness in her crusade against forces of destruction and evil.
Those who oppose women’s right to education have no connection with the true teachings of Islam. We need open minded, mature and sincere youth like Malala to reconstruct the very foundation of Pakistan, to get rid of the curse of extremism and make it a peaceful, progressive and prosperous country. That was the dream of the founder of the nation, a western-educated Barrister at Law, Mohammed Ali Jinnah — and his learned sister Fatima Jinnah — when they created an independent country for the Muslims of South Asia in 1947.
About Mehdi Rizvi
Mehdi Rizvi is a former member of the Community Editorial Board, Toronto Star and an affiliate of the Center of Excellence for Research on Immigration and Settlement, which is a consortium of three Toronto universities. He is a chemist who has worked in the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, cement and UV printing products for the last 35 years.
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