On this day in history, a miracle sparked an outcry.
Very few individuals have had their voice echo throughout the world, even fewer have been women, and only a rare handful have been both. Femininity and youth have been obstacles that have prevailed throughout history in silencing changemakers, but one girl managed to break that chain at the risk of her life.
Malala Yousafzai was born in the Swat District of northwest Pakistan in 1997, named after a folk heroine of the same name. Her father, an educational activist himself, taught her to be fluent in three languages, inspired her dream of becoming a doctor, and devoted time to discussing politics with her from a young age. One of her idols was Barack Obama. In 2008, her father took her to speak at a press club where she famously remarked, “How dare the Taliban take away my basic right to education?” which was extensively covered in Pakistani papers and news outlets.
At the time, the Taliban’s growing influence over the region led to the banning of women’s right to education and shopping, as well as television and music. BBC Urdu wanted to do an anonymous interview with a schoolgirl to get an insight into life under the Taliban, but many refused, fearing retribution. Malala’s father, however, offered his daughter’s participation, and it marked the beginning of Malala’s activist career despite the endless death threats.
On Oct. 9, 2012, Malala rode home on a bus after completing an exam in Swat Valley. A masked gunman stormed the bus, demanding Malala identify herself or else everyone aboard would be killed. After she did so, the gunman shot her in the face, with the bullet narrowly missing her brain. Two other girls were injured. After the attacker fled, Malala was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, England, which specializes in wounded military personnel. The Pakistani government covered all expenses related to her treatment. Although the odds were against her, Malala was discharged with 96% facial nerve recovery in January 2013.
When news of Malala’s assassination attempt spread, millions erupted into protest. The Pakistani president called the incident an “attack on civilized people,” petitions were signed, which led to the ratification of the first Right to Education bill in Pakistan, and Malala’s father publicly remarked that “The Taliban cannot stop all independent voices through the force of bullets.” Despite universal protest, the Taliban maintained that, should Malala survive, they would target her again, citing her as the “symbol of the infidels and obscenity.”
Today, Malala’s attack is remembered as a moment of modern martyrdom. Her inimitable courage against the Taliban’s oppression has cemented her as a timeless agent of change.
“With guns you can kill terrorists,” said Malala, “with education you can kill terrorism.”
