Malala: The Pen Is Mightier Than The Sword

Malala Yousafzai
student, writer, freedom fighter
When I got up I was very happy knowing that I will go to school today. At school some girls were wearing uniform whereas others were in casual clothes. During assembly girls looked extremely happy and were hugging each other. After assembly the headmistress advised us to cover ourselves properly and wear the burqa because it is a condition put by the Taleban.
This entry is from the BBC Diary of Pakistani Schoolgirl, written by Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year old living in Swat, Pakistan. According to the BBC:
Private schools in Pakistan's troubled north-western Swat district have been ordered to close in a Taleban edict banning girls' education. Militants seeking to impose their austere interpretation of Sharia law have destroyed about 150 schools in the past year. Five more were blown up despite a government pledge to safeguard education, it was reported on Monday. A seventh grade schoolgirl from Swat chronicles how the ban has affected her and her classmates.
To my horror, I heard this morning that the Taleban tried to execute this brave writer. Would you join me in praying for Malala? Don't miss this short video to catch a glimpse of her courage:



For ideas about how to support writers like Malala, fighting for freedom with the power of words, visit Freedom to Write at PEN America.