Malala Yousafzai talks politics, faith, advocacy

Malala Yousafzai gave Muslim Girl an informative look into her thinking behind several topics, including faith, education, and contemporary challenges, in a recent interview. Speaking about global priorities in terms of issues, Malala said, “It can be challenging to determine where to contribute assistance given the multitude of challenges affecting our planet, such as poverty, prejudice, war, and climate change. However, I will always prioritize education since I am aware of its capacity to spur advancement on all fronts.”

“I am so proud of the work that Malala Fund has done in the last decade to support local education activists who are leading projects and campaigns to help more girls complete 12 years of school,” the woman said, shedding light on the work her charity has undertaken. We have faith in their ability to make decisions that are best for their communities and greatly benefit from their creative ideas.”

Malala also discussed her role as executive producer of the 2023 Oscar-nominated documentary Stranger at the Gate. She disclosed, “I was really touched and motivated by the narrative as I was viewing it on my laptop in my living room with my spouse. Addressing problems like violence and extremism is particularly challenging since these difficulties are frequently caused by the dehumanization of a particular person, a group of individuals, a religious community, or an ethnic group. However, we also realize that individuals are exactly like us when we interact with them, whether in person or through television.”

“I think this understanding can help us build compassion when it comes to some of today’s biggest crises, like the tragedy of what’s happening in Gaza right now,” Malala said, referring to the Israeli apartheid that still exists in Palestine. One thing that has been apparent to me is how easily the media and several officials have dehumanized or reduced Palestinians to numbers, which allows some people to turn a blind eye to the daily horrors that are occurring. In recent months, I have made an effort to use my social media platforms—especially my Instagram stories—to highlight and bring attention to the incredible people—especially the children—in Gaza who are dealing with this atrocity on a daily basis. In recent months, I have made an effort to use my social media platforms—especially my Instagram stories—to highlight and bring attention to the incredible people—especially the children—in Gaza who are dealing with this atrocity on a daily basis. I have a great admiration for ladies like Plestia and Bisan, the courageous youths who are using social media to chronicle this tragedy in real time and who are making a significant effort to humanize the suffering of the people and heroes around them.”

The youngest Nobel laureate spoke candidly about his faith, saying, “Faith has always been a big part of my life — and it continues to be so today. I grew up in a Muslim country and in a Muslim family, committed to the teachings of Islam.” She went on, saying, “There are two things that come to me when I consider how my faith influences my activism. The first is the constant admonition to abstain from destructive activities and to treat others with justice, honesty, and integrity. I recall that the Quran had very strong teachings about doing good and being a decent person when I first began studying it with translation at the age of ten.

She also said, “Making sure that we do not allow others to misuse religion to do harm is the second thing that drives some of my activism.” We observe in Afghanistan how the Taliban uses a perverted view of Islam to uphold its system of gender-based discrimination. My religious convictions lead me to believe that it is immoral to purposefully and systemically mistreat women and girls by preventing them from getting a haircut, seeing a doctor, or taking a stroll in the park. While there are other Muslim nations in the globe, Afghanistan is the only one that forbids girls from attending school.

“Perhaps the most obvious answers are that I finished high school and graduated from university, traveled to more than 30 countries, got married, and started Malala Fund,” Malala said when asked about her progress.When radicals took over our town in the Swat Valley and declared that girls could no longer attend school, I was just eleven years old. Thus, the major motivation behind my action was my desire to finish my own education and have the opportunity to fulfill my aspirations. I started speaking up because I wanted it for my friends as well. Like other young females, I had a lot of zeal, drive, and ambition.”

Malala shared the finest advise she’s ever heard, adding, “My dad told me that activism is for others, not about you, more than 10 years ago after my attack. That was a really nice sentiment, and I have always tried to keep that in mind while I work. And happily, you are inspired to keep fighting for a society where all girls can study and lead when you are surrounded by activists and girls who share such strong beliefs.”