"The power of education frightens them. The power of the voice of women frightens them."
This is what Malala Yousafzai had to say about the Taliban, who tried to murder her for going to school, in a 2013 speech …
This is what Malala Yousafzai had to say about the Taliban, who tried to murder her for going to school, in a 2013 speech …
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00:00On the 9th of October 2012, the Taliban shot me on the left side of my forehead.
00:06They shot my friends too.
00:08They thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed.
00:17Out of that silence came thousands of voices.
00:22The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions.
00:27But nothing changed in my life.
00:29Except this.
00:32Weakness, fear and hopelessness died.
00:36Strength, power and courage was born.
00:40I am the same Malala.
00:43My ambitions are the same.
00:46My hopes are the same.
00:48And my dreams are the same.
00:50I'm not against anyone.
00:54Neither am I here to speak in terms of personal revenge against the Taliban
00:58or any other terrorist group.
01:02I'm here to speak up for the right of education of every child.
01:08I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists.
01:15I do not even hate the Taliban who shot me.
01:18Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me, I would not shoot him.
01:29We realized the importance of our voice when we are silenced.
01:45In the same way, when we were in Swat, the north of Pakistan,
01:50we realized the importance of pens and books when we saw the guns.
01:56The wise saying, the pen is mightier than sword was true.
02:03The extremists were and they are afraid of books and pens.
02:10The power of education, the power of education frightens them.
02:17They are afraid of women.
02:20The power of the voice of women frightens them.
02:23And that is why they killed 14 innocent students in the recent attack in Quetta.
02:32And that is why they killed female teachers and polio workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
02:38That is why they're blasting schools every day.
02:42Because they were and they are afraid of change,
02:46afraid of equality that we will bring into our society.
02:50I remember that there was a boy in our school who was asked by a journalist,
03:00why are the Taliban against education?
03:04He answered very simply by pointing to his book.
03:08He said, a Talib doesn't know what is written inside this book.
03:14They think that God is a tiny little conservative being
03:19who would send girls to the hell just because of going to school.
03:24The terrorists are misusing the name of Islam and Pashtun society
03:29for their own personal benefits.
03:31Islam says it's not only each child's right to get education,
03:36rather it's their duty and responsibility.
03:39In many parts of the world, especially Pakistan,
03:42Afghanistan, terrorism, wars and conflicts stop children to go to their schools.
03:50We are really tired of these wars.
03:54Women and children are suffering in many ways in many parts of the world.
04:01We call upon all the communities to be tolerant,
04:06to reject prejudice based on caste,
04:09to reject prejudice based on caste, creed, sect, colour, religion or gender,
04:19to ensure freedom and equality for women so that they can flourish.
04:26We cannot all succeed when half of us are held back.
04:30We call upon our sisters around the world to be brave,
04:36to embrace the strength within themselves and realise their full potential.
04:42We will continue our journey to our destination of peace and education.
04:50No one can stop us.
04:53We will speak up for our rights and we will bring change through our voice.
05:00We believe in the power and the strength of our words.
05:07Our words can change the whole world.