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[Forsythia]

This is a really powerful story about how one little girl fought against religious extremeists.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2012/10/09/162573135/taliban-say-they-shot-14-year-old-pakistani-girl-who-exposed-their-cruelty

"Shooting attacks happen every day in Pakistan," as NPR's Philip Reeves reports from Islamabad.

But the shooting of a teenaged girl who became nationally known after she documented the Taliban's cruelty in Pakistan's Swat Valley has caused particular shock in that country, he tells our Newscast Desk.

The Pakistani Taliban are claiming their fighters carried out today's attack. According to Philip, "officials say Malala Yousufzai was outside her school when a gunman approached, and opened fire, injuring her and at least one other child."


(Note at 7 a.m. ET, Oct 10: Earlier, we wrote that Malala is 14. That is what The Associated Press, Reuters and other news outlets are reporting. Phil, though, has checked with Malala's school and been told she was born on July 12, 1997 — making her 15. He also spoke with her in August 2009. Malala said then that she was 12.)

Pakistan's Dawn newspaper says it has been told by a spokesman for the Taliban that the girl was targeted for spreading "anti-Taliban and 'secular' thoughts among the youth of the area." Malala, Dawn says, was "hit by couple of bullets to her neck and head." While hospitalized, she is said to be "out of danger." She may, though, need to be sent overseas for treatment.

The Taliban reportedly say they'll target her again.
 
As Philip reminds us, "Malala is a national figure. She lives in Swat Valley and was there several years ago when the Taliban took control and began burning down girls' schools. The Pakistani army rolled in, in 2009, to retake the area. Malala wrote an anonymous diary, broadcast on the BBC, about life under the Taliban. She advocated education for girls, and defied the militants' ban on this by secretly going to school with her books hidden in her clothes. Her bravery was recognized last year when she was nominated for the International Children's Peace Prize."

The BBC report, "Diary of a Pakistani schoolgirl," is posted here. In one diary entry, she wrote:


"I had a terrible dream yesterday with military helicopters and the Taleban. I have had such dreams since the launch of the military operation in Swat. My mother made me breakfast and I went off to school. I was afraid going to school because the Taleban had issued an edict banning all girls from attending schools.

"Only 11 students attended the class out of 27. The number decreased because of Taleban's edict. My three friends have shifted to Peshawar, Lahore and Rawalpindi with their families after this edict.

"On my way from school to home I heard a man saying 'I will kill you.' I hastened my pace and after a while I looked back if the man was still coming behind me. But to my utter relief he was talking on his mobile and must have been threatening someone else over the phone."

At the above link is a link to her diary.  This little girl is as brave as they come, and I hope she pulls through.

[Will Sweat]

Amazing courage.  While we talk here in America of a "war on women" in some parts of the world you can be killed simply for expressing an opinion.

I hope she recovers and both her and her family get out of that region before she is killed.  It is horrific to think that there is still cultures that allow female genital mutilation, discount women's rights to drive or be in public without an escort or prevent women from getting an education.  Of course, my assessment is judgemental based upon my principals which they obviously do not share. 

Until parts of the world enter the current century, I don't see how we can expect them to move forward and offer a positive contribution to the world.  I would bet the majority of people in her home would support her but are fearful of the repercussions. 

[Forsythia]

The NPR story I listened to this morning went into more detail about how parts of Pakistan are becoming more and more accepting of Western ideas.  This, obviously, upsets the Taliban and causes them to react more violently.  All in all I think we're winning the war with the people of Muslim countries, and we have to do everything we can to support the brave men and women like the little girl above.  I would love to have Obama come out and say something about her courage so that this would get more national coverage.

[Forsythia]

Here's an update from the BBC.

Surgeons have removed a bullet from the head of a 14-year-old girl, a day after she was shot by Taliban gunmen in north-western Pakistan's Swat Valley.

Malala Yousafzai, a campaigner for girls' rights, is reported to be in a stable condition after the operation.

The attack sparked outrage among many Pakistanis, who gathered in several cities for anti-Taliban protests and held prayers for the girl's recovery.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19893309

Apparently there are protests taking place against the Taliban.  Many people are rising up to support Malala.  Hopefully this will bring about change in that region.

[eriemermaid]

Here's an update from the BBC.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19893309

Apparently there are protests taking place against the Taliban.  Many people are rising up to support Malala.  Hopefully this will bring about change in that region.

Or get the whole lot of 'em shot!

[Baggins]

Yeah, I would say someone getting shot would be cruel...

[The Fuzz]

They probably look down on us with equal scorn for imprisoning someone smoking and dealing a little pot.

[Will Sweat]

They probably look down on us with equal scorn for imprisoning someone smoking and dealing a little pot.

So are you saying the Taliban looks favorably upon the "hippie lettuce"?  WOW - and to think I figured the did'nt have any redeeming qualities :-)!

[Skittelroo]

This is one brave little girl.  I hope she recovers completely and is able to obtain the education she deserves and apparently craves.  I fear for her safety.

[Forsythia]

A bullet which hit Malala's skull was removed last week during surgery in Peshawar that saved her life, the Pakistani military said.

In a statement, the military said her condition had since been stabilised by doctors in Rawalpindi.

If she was to be moved abroad, doctors said it should be "during this time window whilst her condition was optimal and before any unforeseen complications had set in," the statement added.

"The panel of doctors recommended that Malala be shifted abroad to a UK centre which has the capability to provide integrated care to children who have sustained severe injury," it said.

Once she has recovered sufficiently, she is expected to need treatment to repair or replace damaged bones in her skull and to undergo neurological treatment.

The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Islamabad says Malala has been kept sedated and on a ventilator since she was taken to hospital, with tight security around her.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-19944078


More at the link above.

[BigRedDog]

She was finally released from the hospital yesterday although she does have to go back later for some reconstructive procedures:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/04/malala-yousufzai-discharged-hospital/1808455/