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Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai is selective in condemning human rights abuses

DelhiWritten By: Aditi GautamUpdated: Sep 17, 2019, 08:44 AM IST
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File photo of Malala Yousafzai. Photograph:(Reuters)

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Her concern for Kashmiris appears hypocritical as she has been tight-lipped about atrocities against minorities in Pakistan, country's harsh blasphemy laws and forced conversions of Hindu girls.

Pakistani national and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has expressed concern about the people of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370 and said she has urged the United Nations to work towards peace and help Kashmiri children go back to school.

Malala is an activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate who was shot at by a gunman on her way back home from school in the Swat district in 2012.

She was targetted for speaking out about the plight of girls in her region who were banned from going to school by the Taliban.

Watch: Malala Yousafzai's 'selective & ignoble' outrage on Kashmir

Her concern for Kashmiris appears hypocritical as she has been tight-lipped about atrocities against minorities in her own country, Pakistan's harsh blasphemy laws and forced conversions of Hindu girls.

She also never spoke against the human rights violations of Baloch people. People of Balochistan have raised the issue of their "annihilation" by the Pakistani forces at the forum of UNHRC also, but Malala did not extend any support to them.

Malala has been very selective in condemning human rights abuses. Fearing the backlash, she does not speak against barbarities people have been facing in her own country.

In her recent tweets on Kashmir issue, she reiterated Pakistan state narrative. Indian nationals firmly pointed out her hypocrisy, saying she is running Pakistan's agenda on Kashmir.

Pakistan has been responding hysterically since the time Indian government scrapped Article 370 which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir. Prime Minister Imran Khan and other ministers tried to portray a manipulated picture with false narratives, however, got no traction from global leaders. Even the Taliban has strongly criticised Pakistan for linking the Kashmir issue with the situation in Afghanistan. 

Instead of fighting a social media war with India and making embarrassing statements, Malala, Pakistani leaders and need to accept the reality on Kashmir and solve their own issues.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)