Malalay: A Pakistani Girl Speaks Out in Swat
Ongoing war in Swat has displaced more than 2 million people. Families are forced from their homes due to the conflict. And when they leave, they lose much more than the roof over their head. They lose their ability to make a living, access to food and other assets they might have stored, and the ability to predict what tomorrow might hold for their children.
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This violence and the increasing pressure brought to bear by the Taliban and other extremists in Swat are causing girls to lose their right to an education. Hundreds of schools were burnt down in the recent violence. The war is taking shape as a war on female education. In the face of this, Malalay, an 11-year-old girl from Swat -- and a gifted student -- speaks out.
“I represent Swat, the Switzerland of the East, which was once so beautiful, so peaceful and so full of life [but] has now become a valley of violence, bloodshed and denial of respect for humanity and values," says Malalay. "My valley is turning into ruins and my school is threatened to be turned into ashes.”
ActionAid, in collaboration with Citizen Rights and Sustainable Development (CRSD), organized a peace conference with community groups from Swat and other conflict-prone areas in Pakistan to discuss and highlight the effects of extremism and the on-going war on terror. Malalay spoke on behalf of her classmates at this conference.
Fhaheen Bibi, 25, stands outside a temporary shelter with a baby.
Copyright © Warrick Page/ Panos Pictures/ ActionAid
Malalay, whose name is derived from a heroic folk lore character, gave a moving account of her life as a girl in Swat. She shared her fears and concerns about the future, which seems to hold nothing but bleakness. She explained that her community has complied with all the Taliban's orders, but they still continue to harass the community.
“Every child of my age in the area is terrified. We are not allowed to go to schools. When they asked us not to go to schools, we stopped going there," she added. "Yet, they torched our schools. We couldn’t go out to play.
“I want to become a doctor. I want to tell all the extremist elements that if they deny female education, where would they send their own daughters for medical treatment,” Malalay said.
Malalay is also fearful for her teachers, who are threatened every day by these militant elements.
“My teachers have dedicated themselves for the mission of imparting education, and yet these forces have threatened to kill them and forced them to stay at home,” she added.
“My school has 62 teachers and around 700 children are studying in the school and it’s been weeks that no educational activity has taken place in our schools. I won a quiz competition on my last day at school and I was so happy that I beat all the other students of my age, but now I dread that I would never be able to go to school, participate in quizzes and win prizes for my abilities,” Malalay said, with tears in her eyes.
Malalay is a very intelligent girl and has a very good understanding of what is happening in her community. Her love for her homeland and her anguish over the current situation is very obvious from this poem, which she wrote herself to address elders and the people in power.
Education is my basic right
My books have been burnt
My pen has been broken
My school has been torched
O’ the protector of human rights and justice,
Come out! Stand by us!
Give my books back!
Give my pen back!
I am the daughter of the Eve!
I’m a mother, I’ m a sister, I’ m a daughter…
I am an honorable part of this global village…
Is there anyone to hear my voice, to hear Swat??
Help us and protect us!
Malalay inspires people with her conviction and the originality of thoughts. Her words are source of strength, encouragement and hope. She vows to continue speaking out against the violation of girls’ rights, especially their right to education, as she believes education is the only way to prosperity and a better future.
Please join ActionAid as it assesses the current situation for millions of people fleeing northwest Pakistan due to a recent rash of violence between the government and Taliban forces.
