Malala takes campaign for girls' education to the UN
Teen shot by Taliban takes her campaign for the right to education to the UN on her 16th birthday
Pakistan teenager Malala Yousafzai told the United Nations yesterday that she would not be silenced by terrorists, in her first public speech since being shot by the Taliban.
"They thought that the bullet would silence us, but they failed," Malala said on her 16th birthday in a presentation that was quickly hailed for its power.
"The terrorists thought that they would change my aims and stop my ambitions, but nothing changed in my life, except this: weakness, fear and hopelessness died. Strength, power and courage was born," she said in a speech given several standing ovations.
Malala, who wore a pink headscarf and a shawl that belonged to assassinated Pakistan leader Benazir Bhutto, insisted she did not want "personal revenge" against the Taliban gunman who shot her on a bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley on October 12 last year.
"I want education for the sons and daughters of the Taliban and all the terrorists and extremists. I do not even hate the Talib who shot me. Even if there is a gun in my hand and he stands in front of me I would not shoot him."
But Malala said "the extremists were and they are afraid of books and pens, the power of education. The power of education silenced them. They are afraid of women."
