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Girl Shot by Taliban Asks That College Not Bear Her Name Girl Shot by Taliban Asks That College Not Bear Her Name
(about 2 hours later)
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Malala Yousafzai, the teenage Pakistani activist for girls’ education who was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October, has asked a provincial government to reverse its decision to name a college after her, citing concern for the safety of female students, an official said on Friday. ISLAMABAD, Pakistan —The Pakistani teenager who was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman in October has asked a provincial government to reverse its decision to name a college after her, an official said on Friday. But her request was not immediately granted.
The Swat Valley government last month changed the name of Government Girls Degree College in the town of Saidu Sharif to Government Malala Yousafzai Girls Degree College in honor of the teenager, who was gravely wounded in the Oct. 9 attack and is being treated in a British hospital. Ms. Yousafzai, who was 14 at the time of the shooting, which wounded two other students and drew worldwide condemnation, had become a highly visible symbol of resistance against the Taliban, advocating access to education for girls in an area where the militants held sway until a Pakistani Army offensive in 2009. The young woman, Malala Yousatzai, 15, who attained fame as an advocate for girls’ education, made the request out of concern for the safety of the school’s female students, said the official, Kamran Rehman, the top civilian in the Swat Valley. Ms. Yousatzai, who was gravely wounded in the Oct. 9 attack and is now recuperating in a British hospital, had become a highly visible symbol of resistance against the Taliban in an area where the militants held sway until a Pakistani Army offensive in 2009.
But on Dec. 12, more than 100 students protested the renaming of the school in Ms. Yousafzai’s honor. They tore down a poster of her, and some threw stones. Last month the Swat Valley government changed the name of the Government Girls Degree College to the Government Malala Yousafzai Girls Degree College. But earlier this month more than 100 students protested the decision, tearing down a poster of Ms. Yousafzai and throwing stones.
“The female students were feeling apprehensive,” Kamran Rehman, the top civilian government official in Swat, said Friday. They feared “that the change in name might lead to an attack on their college and endanger their lives.” “The female students were feeling apprehensive,” Mr. Rehman said. They feared “that the change in name might lead to an attack on their college and endanger their lives.”
The college closed after the protest, with the authorities announcing that the winter break would be held earlier than scheduled. The college closed after the protest, with the authorities sending home the students early for their winter break.
Mr. Rehman said Ms. Yousafzai called him from Britain on Monday “and requested that because of the concerns of female students, the name of the college should be reverted back to its original name.”Mr. Rehman said Ms. Yousafzai called him from Britain on Monday “and requested that because of the concerns of female students, the name of the college should be reverted back to its original name.”
He said the Swat government would consider Ms. Yousafzai’s request. “The request has been communicated to the provincial government,” Mr. Rehman said. “It is the final deciding authority.” He said the Swat government would consider Ms. Yousafzai’s wishes. “The request has been communicated to the provincial government,” Mr. Rehman said. “It is the final deciding authority.”
Mr. Rehman said no militants were known to have issued threats against the college, which has a student body of about 1,800. He said police had been deployed on the road leading to the college and that security remained high across Swat, where the army maintains a presence. Mr. Rehman said no militants were known to have issued threats against the college, which has a student body of about 1,800. He said the police had been deployed on the road leading to the college and that security remained high across Swat, where the army maintains a presence.
“The army is helping the civilian government to maintain law and order,” he said, adding, “Enhanced security is a routine for us.” “The army is helping the civilian government to maintain law and order,” he said. “Enhanced security is a routine for us.”
Ms. Yousafzai is said to be recovering steadily. Pictures of her released in November showed her reading a book.Ms. Yousafzai is said to be recovering steadily. Pictures of her released in November showed her reading a book.
Pakistani officials have said that the attack on Ms. Yousafzai was ordered by Mullah Fazlullah, the Taliban commander in Swat, who managed to escape during the 2009 military operation. He is believed to be in Afghanistan.Pakistani officials have said that the attack on Ms. Yousafzai was ordered by Mullah Fazlullah, the Taliban commander in Swat, who managed to escape during the 2009 military operation. He is believed to be in Afghanistan.