Malala Yousafzai Meets President Obama, Asks Him to Stop Using Drones
Malala Yousafzai was shot in the head and left for dead last year, but the 16-year-old is now on a world tour promoting her book, "I am Malala" and speaking with people about her passion for education. Yousafzai most recently met with President Barack Obama and asked him to stop using drones on her home country of Pakistan.
"I thanked President Obama for the United States' work in supporting education in Pakistan and Afghanistan and for Syrian refugees," Yousafzai said in a statement following the meeting. "I also expressed my concerns that drone attacks are fueling terrorism. Innocent victims are killed in these acts, and they lead to resentment among the Pakistani people. If we refocus efforts on education, it will make a big impact."
Yousafzai was specifically targeted by the Taliban for her activism and willingness to speak out about the right of young girls to receive an education. She was very passionate about education and kept a blog about her desire for every girl to receive an education. Taliban members upset about her actions boarded a bus one year ago and shot her in the head and neck, leaving her for dead.
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Pakistan officials flew the girl to the United Kingdom for intense treatment and, against all odds, she survived. Since then, she has worked hard to rebuild her life and continue working on behalf of young girls wanting to receive an education. Her memoir, "I am Malala" recounts her efforts as well as her hopes for the future.
During an appearance on "The Daily Show," host Jon Stewart was left speechless when Yousafzai said that she would not retaliate against those who shot her but would "fight others through peace and through dialogue and through education. I would tell him how important education is and that I would even want education for your children as well. That's what I want to tell you, now do what you want."
"If you hit a Talib, then there would be no difference between you and the Talib. You must not treat others with cruelty," Yousafzai explained.
