Radio Free Europe, November 2013
Malala Yousufzai's book, "I Am Malala," is seen on sale in Islamabad. |
ISLAMABAD
-- An official representing some 10,000 private schools in Pakistan's Khyber
Pakhtunkhwa Province is distancing his association from efforts to ban a book
by teenage education activist Malala Yousafzai.
Earlier,
news agencies quoted the chiefs of two other private-school associations -- the
All-Pakistan Private Schools Federation and the All-Pakistan Private Schools
Management Association -- as saying they wanted to ban the book, "I Am
Malala," because of its anti-Islamic and anti-Pakistani content.
But Aqeel
Razaq, the head of the All Private Schools Executive Association in the
northwestern province, told RFE/RL that no such ban was being enforced and that
his organization had never discussed the issue.
"We
can only ban books that are related to our curriculum. This book was never
considered to be included into our curriculum," Razaq said.
"This
is a general book and will not be affected by our ban. If students want to read
books on their own, it is their choice. They can read anything."
Razaq said
that Malala's book had been criticized on television talk shows and in
newspaper columns but that this did not affect their views about Malala.
"At
this point, we do not have an official policy of whether to encourage or
discourage our children from reading the book," he said.
"We
know Malala Yousafzai for her struggle for girls' education. Whether her book
is controversial or not is a separate issue," Razaq added. "But
Malala Yousafzai is a great name and has turned into the pride of
Pakistan."
Attacked By
Conservatives
Pakistan is
rife with conspiracy theories about Malala. Some private-school officials and
conservative commentators have alleged that she is being promoted by the West
for its own interests.
They say
her book does not show appropriate respect for the Prophet Muhammad because it
fails to use the abbreviation PBUH -- "peace be upon him" -- as is
customary in Pakistan.
ALSO READ:
A Look At The Family Behind Malala
In
addition, they also accuse her of praising "The Satanic Verses"
author Salman Rushdie, who is accused of blasphemy by Islamist extremists.
Malala's
supporters point out that Malala only said in the book that while her father
viewed "The Satanic Verses" as offensive to Islam, "he believes
strongly in the freedom of speech." The book quotes Ziauddin Yousafzai as
telling fellow Muslims, "First, let's read the book and why not respond
with our own book?"
Some
conservative commentators are also offended by the book's description of the
plight of minorities in Pakistan and by criticism of the country's powerful
army.
Malala was
seriously injured when she was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012. She
earned global fame and received many awards after recovering from her injuries
and was considered a top candidate for the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize.
WATCH:
Malala Yousafzai's thoughts on her life before and after the attack, based on
an extensive interview with RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal:
Related Article:
The brave girl who had to face armed assassins because she stood up for her right to educate herself
Related Article:
The brave girl who had to face armed assassins because she stood up for her right to educate herself
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