Teenage education activist Malala Yousufzai has been named alongside the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and US first lady Michelle Obama. PHOTO: TIME
Malala Yousafzai was the only Pakistani who made it to the annual list of 100 Most Influential People in the World released by Time Magazine on Thursday.
Malala came under international spotlight after Taliban attacked her in Swat for campaigning for girls’ education. She received a bullet injury to her head but successfully recovered after undergoing a surgery in Britain.
“The Taliban almost made Malala a martyr; they succeeded in making her a symbol,” said the Time 100 website.
“The memoir she is writing to raise awareness about the 61 million children around the world who are not in school indicates she accepts that unasked-for responsibility as a synonym for courage and a champion for girls everywhere. However Malala concludes her book, her story so far is only just beginning,” it added.
Malala was named under the “Icons” category of the list, with other renowned personalities including Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, US first lady Michelle Obama, singer Beyoncé and Justin Timberlake.
The “Leaders” category included US President Barack Obama, US Senator Rand Paul, Director Central Intelligence Agency John Brennan, North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un and Pope Francis.
Singer Christina Aguilera, director Steven Spielberg and talk-show host Jimmy Kimmel came under the “Artists” category, while Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and satirist Bassem Youssef were named “Pioneers”.
COMMENTS (41)
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ
@Aschraful Makhlooq it is indeed beyond shameful and utterly disgusting to women & men in Pakistan that without any proof people like you and @tabrez accuse Malala of trying to be a pawn for anyone to further their propaganda, but once again @ Aschraful Makhlooq you dodged the question as to what you & @tabrez have done to make sure that what happened to Malala will not be repeated.If you believe that Malala was responsible for her attack then you need to seek professional help.
@ikhtilaf
Thank God! theres sumbody who actually thinks over here and not echo CNN, BBC, Times, Newsweek, Zardari, U(S)N,
@Zeenat Hakim: In reply of your words I would only write this single statement,id est,Malala's issue is just being exaggerated to show and prove that Malala has done a marvelous act against Taliban this is why US' and Pakistani governments are raising Malala's issue.....
@Aschraful Makhlooq what have YOU done for the other two girls whose were with Malala on the time of Taliban’s shooting? Then just have this outburst complaining about Malala being included in the 100 most influential people’s list? Did you go them and help their families find a secure life? did you set up a fund for their future education? What about the other sinless girls are they being protected YOU All you have done so far is have this rant break-down on this site...
What she has done for which she has been included in 100 most influential people's list?And if only her voice raising against Taliban is considering her most valuable achievement and she has been included in top 100 most influential people's list then lots of tribal innocent and sinless girls have done so and have been doing so against the Taliban's barbarism and what the other two girls whose were with Malala on the time of Taliban's shooting.What about them and why are they not being considered,remembered and praised like Malala on the world level?????
@ikhtilaf is the prime example of why the Taliban and religious fanatics thrive in Pakistan. @ikhtilaf is the reason why abuse and violence against women is encouraged in Pakistan. @ikhtilaf is why people like him use Photoshop to conjure vile images of women to demean them, @ikhtilaf is in a group of dangerous elements that do not want Pakistan to prosper. The rest of us need to bow our heads and pray that @ikhtilaf & his followers will be called out by ALL decent citizens.
@ikhtilaf
Dude .. I think you need to read a little bit and do some research. The whole propaganda by IK's supportors & PTI's supportors & Taliban Lovers about how it was a conspiracy and how she was not shot has fallen flat on its face. The pictures / interviews after the surgery shows her distorted face .. no expressions on one side of her face which clearly indicate brain injury ... and a brain injury cannot be caused by conspiracies .. I dont understand what is the problem with Pakistanis like .. Pakistanis like you who want to support killing of innocent teenage girls for wanting to study .. shame on you!
Sad to see that the comment recommended by most number of people on this page is the cheap shot by 'Ikhtilaf'. Just shows that ET must have filtered out the other nasty comments (most likely to be in Majority). If this is the condition of those who read English newspapers, one can only wonder what Ordinary Pakistanis who read local language dailies are thinking.
@YosufZai: We are proud of Malala and you for praising her. Salams
The Streisand Effect.. albeit a different kind. Good for her.
I smell something fishy.
@ikhtilaf: I love two girls of my birth country, Miss Malala and Mrs Sherry Rehman, both were made to leave the land they loved more than combine all MULLAHS.
She made it on TIME, we can praise her as a great wonder for her courage but what about us Pakistanis the citizens of this country we allowed this to happen so posting all these fancy comments have little meaning they might tickle our egos as EACH one of you asks yourself this question .."what have I done as a private citizen that this horrendous act does not happen ever again in my life time.." as you walk away sheepishly you know the answer?....absolutely NOTHING!
@ikhtilaf: "..... albeit after a sucessful photoshop surgery." That is mean!
She deserves it.
God..can we go pass Malala...I think she over did the whole " i want to study thing...". I guess we will find out through her grade how mush she love studying....i expect her to ace every single subject and make at least a few record......if not than this whole this was a lie....
@YosufZai: I think bringing Racist pride everywhere does not make sense. Sometimes too much I and You does agonize many people Cannot we simply say Pakistani rather than pointing her Ethnicity and so called Blood because It is like despising the women of Other Ethnicity in Pakistan due to some Hypothetical exaggerated features in your women only. ???
@ikhtilaf,
So finally a Pakistani appears on the list.
Living Legend!!!
Proud of sister Malala - May God grant her what is best for her
great to see a Pakistani in the list. Still a long way to go for her. I bet this girl gonna make our nation very proud in future.
Get your facts straight and do some research before posting such crap. General Asfaq Pervaiz Kayani did make to the list and so did the Uber ISI Chief General Shuja Pasha.
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,189441018938471894215,00.html
http://m.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-pakistans-isi-chief-among-times-100-most-influential-people/20110422.htm
@ikhtilaf: "Shes the 8th wonder of the world being the only person shot at point blank in the head and then to have survived .. albeit after a sucessful photoshop surgery."
Gabrielle Gifford, an American congresswoman, survived gunshot to the head. Is that a 'photoshop' too? Shame on you for spreading senseless conspiracies. Plenty of people survive such an ordeal.
@midhat
lov u my boy!
"give me a pen and a paper" .. as soon as she gained some conscious :P . qoum k naam wasiat hone wali thi ghaliban :P
She is an inspiration to all people who want equality and progress through education.
Why wouldnt she make the list? Shes the 8th wonder of the world being the only person shot at point blank in the head and then to have survived .. albeit after a sucessful photoshop surgery.
Malala my dear you have impressed a lot of people, may allah swt guide you & grant you success in giving girls education that they need.
Hats off for Malala and all the Pakistani who fought and lost their lives in war which was never their own ...it was more like a war which was imposed on us by the people who think that they are always right in everything they do and say . May ALLAH bless us all.
Some good news.... come on now please do not bring microscopes to see conspiracy!!!
At least she made to the 100 most list of the world, time mag cover plus a Pakistani girl and hats off for her and for all Pakistani people for all their sacrifice in the war which was never their own.
At least she made it to the 100 most list of the world ....a Pakistani school girl ....hats off for her plus Pakistan zindabaad .
At least she made it to the 100 most list and a Pakistani . Hats off for her.
The Whole Pushtoon Nation is proud of our Blood Malala. Keep going Brave Girl.
She really is a sigh of hope for this nation but more importantly a symbol! She is one of the hundreds of thousands of youth standing up and working for a brighter future for this nation. Many may not agree with me but i think this a step too far? There are many more people who have done a lot more for not only the nation but for other nations too! And they are more deserving then her! And im not sure of exactly what for but this just seems like a publicity stunt.
Proud of this girl!! She has more courage than most of the us standing upto the bigots..Mind you this bigotry is not an exclusive domain of Taliban but also the elite who created them and cause of the mess we are in!!
Some positive news about Pakistan/Pakistanis....yay!
Kudos - nice to know people can be rewarded for standing tall against thugs and terrorist. Pakistan leaders should take note.
Be ready for the conspiracy theories against Malala.
Hats off girl....Shining like a Diamond!!!
Kudos, she is inspiration for entire humanity.
Bravo! Well deserved achievement for an innocent yet committed girl who stood for the rightful cause of women education in a society that's too obsessed with self righteousness and blames every evil thing on Western Conspiracies rather than looking into its own wrinkled image in the mirror.
Salute to you our National Hero!
Malala bashers, plz succumb to ur Talibaan lifestyle and stop sending ur daughters to schools...