Protests Against Taliban Attack On Pakistani Girl In India

New Delhi, Oct 14, IRNA - Women, including students, the Muslim community in particular, took to the streets of Thane and Lucknow in India’s Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh states over the weekend, to protest against an attack by suspected Taliban militants on a 14-year-old Pakistani schoolgirl. In Thane, school girls and women took part in a rally against the attack on Malala Yousafzai, who was shot by Taliban militants. They said Malala should be brought to India for treatment. One of the protesting students, Faiza, said that prayers are being offered for Malala’s speedy recovery, zeenews website reportd. “She was one among us, I will pray to God for her speedy recovery. We want such people in our country who fight for the rights of the women. Mumbai people will pay for her medication. I am standing in support of her because I also hate militants,” said Faiza. Malala is still fighting for her life after being shot by Taliban gunmen in Mingora on October 9 for speaking out for ‘progressive education’ based on western mode of academics as for girls. She was shot in the head and neck, but has managed to survive. Talking to the reporters, protestor Afsha said, “The reason we have staged such a big rally is because, we want to appeal to the prime ministers of India and Pakistan to get Malala in Mumbai.... Malala initiated and took stand for the rights of schoolgirls, so we are with her and we pray to God for her.” The attack on Malala has been condemned across the world and has fueled ire among the people specially women of Muslim community, who have now taken to the streets for the rights of women. Meanwhile, young students at Lucknow also took to the streets. Talking to reporters, a protestor said that the entire country is united as for the fight against crime and injustice. The Islamist group Ahle Sunnat passed an Islamic dictum known as a Fatwa condemning the Taliban who tried to kill the schoolgirl Malala Yousafzai. Malala was shot and seriously injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province when she was returning home from school Tuesday. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the shooting that also injured two other girls and sparked outrage across the world./end