Islamic Radicals Warn of Pending Fatwa Against Malala Yousafzai
A hardline Islamic group based in Britain is warning that it will soon travel to Pakistan and issue a "fatwa," or religious decree, against the young Pakistani girl who was targeted for assassination. She was advocating for the education of women when she was gunned down, but she survived.
The news of the pending Islamic order has already created a growing outrage over continued attempts to silence an individual for supporting equality for women.
"There will be a fatwa issued regarding Malala Yousufzai taking into account the full story of her injury including her public statements in support of the occupying U.S. army in the region and mocking of key symbols of Islam such as hijab and jihad," Abu Baraa, a senior member of Shariah4Pakistan with ties to British-based Islamic fundamentalists, said in a statement.
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Malala Yousufzai, 15, was shot in the neck as she rode a school bus home in Pakistan. After the global community heard of her story world leaders pledged to support her in her recovery and her movement for educating girls. She has since become an inspiration for people who find hope in her strength.
Anjem Choudary, a prominent radical cleric in Britain, said the fatwa could be issued on Nov. 30 at Lal Masjid, a mosque known for their radical philosophy.
"Nobody is saying we are going to get out our swords and go and look for Malala ... The point is a wider issue: it is about the American and Pakistani involvement in maintaining the British and American interests," Choudary told Reuters.
"Malala is one of the issues we are going to be addressing because she is being used as a propaganda tool by the enemies of Muslims to say: 'Look, Muslims don't believe in education' which is absurd," he said.
Malala's father, Ziauddin Yousufzai, joined his daughter in Britain last month after she was flown there to receive medical treatment. He said that his daughter's recovery is a miracle from God and that those who attacked his daughters were conducting Satan's work.
Yousufzai explained that his daughter was thankful for the outpouring of support for "the cause for which she stands: peace and education." He added that the shooter was "an agent of Satan."
"When she fell, Pakistan stood. And this is a turning point," he said. "She will rise again, she will stand again. She can stand now … the Taliban cannot stop all independent voices through the force of bullets."
