Malala says the group behind the mass abduction does not understand Islam and has not studied the Holy Quran. PHOTO: @MALALAFUND
WASHINGTON: Teenage activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived being shot in the head by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, said Wednesday she sees the more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped by militants in Nigeria as her sisters.
Speaking on CNN, Malala said the extremist group Boko Haram behind the mass abduction does not understand Islam and has not studied the Holy Quran.
"They are actually misusing the name of Islam because they have forgotten that the word islam means 'peace,'" Malala said.
She added: "When I heard about the girls in Nigeria being abducted I felt very sad and I thought that my sisters are in prison and I thought that I should speak up for them."
Malala was shot by a gunman in 2012 over her outspoken views on education for girls in Swat. After undergoing extensive medical treatment, she now lives in Britain.
Malala told CNN that Boko Haram's acts were appalling.
"How can one imprison his own sisters and treat them in such a bad way?" she said, referring to the group's threats to sell the girls into slavery.
"They have not studied Islam yet, they have not studied the Holy Quran yet and they should go and learn Islam," she said.
Several countries have offered their help to Nigeria to find the girls, whose abduction has prompted an international outcry.
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This why people think of our country that way!!!@rasgullah:
Well yet we all need a forum, to act on. Many people out of Pakistan have supported me in my work on this case, yet in Pakistan no organisation even replies my emails.@Ch. Allah Daad:
That's my point aswell. Why don't do something practical in this reference. Why do we forget that the whole world stood with us when it was the case Malala Yousafzai.@rohit950723:
We all stand along your side Malala Yousafzai. I myself a Pakistani teenager feel that all happening in Nigeria is the same what happened in Swat. The only difference is that they are 276 and you were alone. We all are one Malala, I am talking about myself not anyone else as I know that no one in my country cares. I've always wanted to join a proper campaign in this reference but no one cares here in Pakistan. They don't understand that everyone was with us when it was Malala and now we don't want to act. Still hope that others like me and you exist in Pakistan and do their bit even just by joining the hashtag campaign. I am a part of it and am doing my bit, even by starting a petition. Hope for the best for the Nigerian girls.
Nothing from the Muslim world about this atrocity!
Mala is now being used by the west, as is there speciality, does she ever speak out against the double standards applied by the west, does she speak out against hundreds killed by drones in Pakistan ,Yemen, she will manipulated and used by the west, and when she speaks up against them she will be cast away like so many before her..
@Liberal Fascist:
Why is so difficult to appreciate a good gesture or act?
Malala , what happened is unacceptable but please first you look for your own country and you have already received so many awards without doing anything so please look for Pakistani women's and girls and make their ways smooth in future.
She appears to be the only Muslim who has raised a voice. Why does the Muslim community remain mute? Why does the USA volunteer help why Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the other wanna be leaders of Islam never lift a finger?
Puppet
Brave girls like Malala are the only hope for Pakistan and whole Islamic world.
Hail the Mala.. Why are pakistanis leader silent..
Thank you Malala.You are hero. You are a great worker.
Is Malala trying to be the new Mother Tresa ? I thought Asma Jahangir and Veena Malik were already our self appointed Mother Tresas, while Hamid Mir almost became our eternal shaheed-e-Liberalism...
Bravo. Beautiful and truthful words.