Only Pakistanis behind sullying their country's image: Malala Yousafzai on student's lynching
Pakistanis complain that there is Islamophobia, keep saying that other countries are tarnishing the name of their country. No one is destroying the image of Pakistan and Islam. We alone are, Malala said.
In Short
- News of student Mashal Khan's death is full of terror and violence: Malala.
- Khan was a journalism student at Abdukl Wali Khan Unrsity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
- Khan was accused of publishing blasphemous content online and promoting Ahmadi faith.
Deeply pained over the lynching of a student from Pakistan for alleged blasphemy, Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai on Saturday said that Pakistanis alone were responsible for sullying the name of Islam and their country.
Mashal Khan, who studied journalism at the Abdukl Wali Khan University in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was mercilessly thrashed and later shot dead by a vigilante mob of students from the same varsity.
According to the police, this vigilante group of students suspected Mashal of publishing blasphemous content online and promoting the Ahmadi faith.
The 19-year-old UK-based Pakistani education activist, in a video message, said, "Today, I got the news of Mashal Khan's death. This incident is full of terror and violence. I have spoken to his father, who gave the message of peace and patience. I appreciate and salute his message of patience and peace".
"We complain that there is Islamophobia, keep saying that other countries are tarnishing the name of our country. No one is destroying the image of Pakistan and Islam. We ourselves are tarnishing the name of Pakistan and Islam", Malala said.
MASHAL's FUNERAL IS FUNERAL OF TEACHINGS OF ISLAM: MALALA
"This was not only the funeral of Mashal Khan, but also the funeral of the teachings of our religion. We have forgotten the teachings of Islam, which talk about about peace and patience," she said.
Malala, who shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize with India's child rights activist Kailash Satyarthi, said that it was the right of every Pakistani to be safe and lead a normal life.
"If we continue to kill one another in such a manner, no one will be safe", she said, referring to the lynching of Khan who, after being assaulted by a large group of students, appeared to have succumbed to a gunshot wound.
"So my message to everyone is, please know your religion, culture, values which have always taught us to be patient and preach peace. In the end, I would request all political parties, leaders and government to stand for peace and justice. Stand for the justice to Mashal Khan's family and do not be silent", Malala added.
Also Watch: We ourselves are tarnishing the name of Pakistan and Islam: Malala Yousafzai
(WITH INPUTS FROM PTI)
Also read | Malala Yousafzai named UN Messenger of Peace, to promote girls' education
Also read | Malala Yousafzai receives honorary Canadian citizenship