Three friends bonded by blood: Malala Yousafzai (R) stands next to her school friends Kainat Riaz (L) and Shazia Ramzan (C) during the first Global Citizenship Commission meeting at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland on October 19, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
LONDON: A year after they found themselves covered in each other’s blood after being shot by a lone gunman in the back of a school van in Swat, education activist Malala Yousafzai was reunited on Saturday with her two fellow schoolmates in London.
Kainat Riaz and Shazia Ramzan met Malala during an event at Edinburgh University in Scotland, the first time they have seen her since the attack.
A Taliban gunman boarded the girls' school bus in Swat in October 2012 and opened fire at Malala to punish her for championing girls' rights to education.
Malala, now 16, was shot in the head while Kainat and Shazia were both wounded in the attack.
All three girls are now living and studying in Britain, where Malala received medical treatment for her injuries at a hospital in Birmingham.
They were the guests of honour at the launch on Saturday of the Global Citizenship Commission, a body of leaders representing politics, religious institutions, law and philanthropy.
"After I was shot the terrorists thought that I would not continue the struggle for education, but not only did I not stop my campaign but now Kainat and Shazia are with me and they are also supporting me," Malala told the event.
"They are not afraid, we are not afraid and now people are supporting us and that is the greatest courage, and that is the weapon that we have got, the unity and togetherness."
Malala was also presented with an honorary masters degree from the university by former British prime minister Gordon Brown, who has backed her campaign.
The event is the latest in a series to fete Malala's work.
She went to Buckingham Palace on Friday to meet Queen Elizabeth II and her husband Prince Philip, while last week she met US President Barack Obama.
Malala was among the favourites to win the Nobel Peace Prize this month, but she lost out to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
COMMENTS (25)
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What exactly has Malala done? she is the perfect bad story of a Pashtun girl that the west wants to know!
@Magnum: "Down with Scotland, Edinburgh University for making a mockery out of their real efforts." Please understand that such degrees are "honorific". They have no real value in the marketplace and are given as a sign of respect. They do not signify any proficiency in any marketable skills and are therefore harmless.
@Mohammad Abbasi Most of the "overseas" world believes in this crazy concept called freedom of speech and expression, which I'm sure you're not quite familiar with. No one gets deported for exercising this right. I know. Crazy right? Especially the naturalized citizens.
Another slap on the hardworking and committed students of Pakistan who persue the road to their dreams through real education. Down with Scotland, Edinburgh University for making a mockery out of their real efforts.
@Crazy Canuck Why bother with school, when you can get a masters degree from Edinburgh University?
Another heartburn for Taliban, Cyber-Taliban and political wing of Taliban(am sure all know it). How can they tolerate criticism of their mentors- people with Guns and suicide jackets ready to blow ,maim and kill ordinary Pakistanis. Men who should be fighting the murderers are hiding behind a young girl,who is fighting those these cowards and impotent men should be fighting instead. Instead they are ever ready with their vocal ammunition to fight and wound anybody who dares the Taliban and other terrorists. Shameless men!!
We should be proud of her , It is not everyday that a person gets a masters degree in getting shot in the head.
Going by the picture, the girls don't seem to be on talking terms. I'd love to know more and read 'I am Shazia / Kainat'.
We laughed when Karachi University awarded PhD degree to Rehman Malik. Now, it's time to laugh again. My question is, how many lives has she influenced to deserve all this attention and awards? She still has a long way to walk her talk. She's just kid and she must be allowed to grow like a normal person without being over burdened with hope and expectations. At 16 one can't be a revolutionary or a visionary. Even Einstein, Martin Luther King and Mandela weren't.
many losers are insanely jealous of Malala.
Overseas Pakistanis who attack and insult Malala should be deported!
Silly question I'm sure but isn't she missing out school these days? Wasn't that the whole point of it?
@Mo
you forgot the biggest comedian- Imran Khan ! this dude is offering office to the taliban even when his party members are getting killed.
@Mo: Just figured out where you live. London police alerted of your hate speech.
@Ch. Allah Daad: "... both of them pointed their fingure towards her." How do you know? Stop being a liar and recognize greatness around you. Malala has said in another recent interview by Dianne Sawyer of CBS News in America that she was the only one who had not covered her face. Asked why did she risk doing that, she replied that she wanted to live her life the way she wanted. Probably that is what gave her away.
@Mo
At least Malala stood up to the savages. And what's your claim to fame exactly? Posting nasty comments using a pseudonym on random websites? Disgusting.
this is a joke.... Malala is nothing but a story created and promoted by some self-centred individuals with some hidden agendas.... Malala is disgrace for Pashtun people.... i do not understand why will a respectful institution like University of Edinburgh will do such thing...... its nothing to do promoting education but something else..... i think they are trying to give rise to feminine revolution in Pashtun societies to weaken them, as they are unable to do it otherwise.
@Mo: London does not know, how to pick them ! They all simply turn up on our door step, and being too civilised we allow them in ! Someone is definitely managing this young lady's PR and I do wonder as to their objectives.
The Bambooooooz Degree....
Rebirth of British Empire but this time with whole new agenda !!!!!!
“After I was shot the terrorists thought that I would not continue the struggle for education, but not only did I not stop my campaign but now Kainat and Shazia are with me and they are also supporting me,” Malala told the event.
Now UK should pay for education of these friends of Malala in UK and bring their families to UK and give them welfare and free homes and medical.
Later Muslims can use Malala to convert teenager Christians to Islam and make her a spokesperson for brining Sharia to UK.
God bless these three girls and shame on Pakistan for appeasing the Taliban monsters.
These girls were not targets, instead they betrayed her because when terrorist asked about Mallala, both of them pointed their fingure towards her.
I lost half of my life in getting that piece of paper, she got it like this. God she is way too genius, so is Rehman Malik.
I just laughed and laughed when I saw this. Good to hear there are such comedians being produced by the motherland. Altaf, Bilawal now her. London does know how to pick them. Thanks ET, needed a good laugh while waiting on the subway! XO