The Daily Show - Malala Yousafzai Extended Interview

Summary

Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace Prize nominee, discusses her advocacy for girls' education and her book 'I Am Malala.' She recounts the Taliban's oppressive rule in Swat Valley, Pakistan, and her own experience of being targeted for promoting education. Malala emphasizes the transformative power of education in combating terrorism and fostering equality, urging support for the Malala Fund to advance girls' education globally.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Malala Yousafzai is a prominent advocate for girls' education and the youngest Nobel Peace Prize nominee.
• 📚 Her book, 'I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education And Was Shot By The Taliban', shares her experiences and advocacy.
• 🏔️ Prior to the Taliban's arrival in 2004, Swat Valley was considered a paradise.
• 💥 The Taliban's reign of terror began in 2007, with the destruction of over 400 schools and brutalization of the local population.
• 🗣️ Malala's father was a significant influence, encouraging her to speak out for women's rights and education.
• 🔍 Malala realized the Taliban targeted her after discovering threats against her on Google in 2012.
• 🧐 Malala emphasizes the importance of education as a means to empower women and promote peace.
• 🤝 She believes that dialogue and education, rather than violence, are the keys to resolving conflicts.
• 🌍 The Malala Fund aims to provide education to girls in developing countries, especially in war-torn regions.
• 🕊️ Malala envisions a world without war, where education is the tool to achieve lasting peace and understanding among people.

Q & A

Who is Malala Yousafzai and what is she known for?

Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girls' access to education worldwide and is known for being the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize. She is also the author of the book 'I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up For Education, And Was Shot By The Taliban.'

What was Malala's realization about the importance of education?

Malala realized the importance of education when she and other girls in Pakistan were stopped from going to school. She understood that education is power for women and that's why terrorists are afraid of it.

When did the Taliban come to Swat Valley and how did their presence initially manifest?

The Taliban came to Swat Valley in 2004, but they started showing their true colors of terrorism in 2007, bombing more than 400 schools and slaughtering people.

What was the situation in Swat Valley before the Taliban arrived?

Before the Taliban arrived, Malala described Swat Valley as a paradise of sorts.

How did the Taliban initially gain support from the people in Swat Valley?

The Taliban initially gained support by establishing a court that was faster than Pakistani courts and convincing people by misusing the name of Islam.

What was the turning point for the people of Swat Valley regarding the Taliban?

The turning point was when the Taliban started slaughtering people, blasting electricity generators during Ramadan, and severely limiting the freedom of women.

What role did Malala's father play in encouraging her to speak out for education?

Malala's father was a great encouragement for her as he also spoke out for women's rights and girls' education.

How did Malala respond when she found out the Taliban had threatened her?

Initially, Malala could not believe the threat and was not worried about herself as much as her father. Later, she thought about confronting the Taliban with the importance of education.

What is the Malala Fund and what does it aim to do?

The Malala Fund is an organization aimed at working for the education of girls in developing countries, especially in areas suffering from conflict and lack of access to education.

Why does Malala believe education is the best way to fight terrorism?

Malala believes education is the best way to fight terrorism because it teaches communication, how to live a life, history, science, equality, justice, respect, and how to live together.

What are some of the other issues Malala wants to address through education?

Through education, Malala wants to address issues such as child labor, child trafficking, cultural norms, and the suffering of children due to terrorism, especially in countries like Syria, Afghanistan, and India.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction and Malala's Advocacy

The transcript begins with an introduction to Malala Yousafzai, a young advocate for girls' education and the youngest nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize. She discusses her book 'I Am Malala' and the significance of education, particularly for women. Malala shares her realization of the importance of education after being denied access to it in Pakistan. She explains how education empowers women and is a threat to terrorists like the Taliban, who fear the power of educated women.

05:01

🏞️ Life Under the Taliban

Malala describes the Taliban's arrival in Swat Valley and the initial perception of them as bringers of order and services. However, this perception changed as the Taliban's true nature emerged, marked by increased violence and terror, including the destruction of schools and the killing of innocent people. She recounts the harsh realities and the impact on daily life, including the restriction of women's freedoms and the denial of education.

10:01

🔍 The Impact of Extremism

In this section, Malala discusses the tactics used by the Taliban to maintain control, including the use of fear and the misuse of religious beliefs. She emphasizes the bravery of girls who spoke out for their rights despite the danger. Malala also reflects on the beauty of Swat Valley and the desire for peace, contrasting it with the harsh realities imposed by the Taliban. She calls for international support and understanding, highlighting the importance of education as a means to combat extremism and war.

15:02

🌟 Malala's Mission and Global Appeal

The final paragraph focuses on Malala's mission to promote education, particularly for girls in developing countries affected by conflict and poverty. She mentions specific regions like Syria, Afghanistan, and India, emphasizing the widespread need for educational support. Malala calls for global solidarity and support for her cause, urging people to donate to the Malala Fund and get involved in advocating for education as a tool for peace and equality.

Keywords

💡Education

Education is a fundamental human right and the process of facilitating learning or the acquisition of knowledge, skills, values, beliefs, and habits. In the video, Malala Yousafzai emphasizes the importance of education, especially for girls, as a means of empowerment and a tool against oppression. The script illustrates this through her personal experience of being denied education by the Taliban and her subsequent advocacy for the right to learn.

💡Nobel Peace Prize

The Nobel Peace Prize is an annual international award bestowed upon individuals or organizations for promoting peace in line with the will of Alfred Nobel, the prize's founder. Malala Yousafzai was the youngest person ever to be nominated for the prize, highlighting her significant role as an advocate for education and peace. Her nomination is mentioned in the script as a testament to her courage and impact.

💡Taliban

The Taliban refers to a fundamentalist political movement in Afghanistan known for their strict interpretation of Islam and opposition to education, especially for women and girls. In the script, the Taliban's arrival in Swat Valley is marked by the destruction of schools and the imposition of harsh restrictions on women's rights, which Malala speaks out against.

💡Swat Valley

Swat Valley is a region in Pakistan that was once considered a paradise but was later terrorized by the Taliban, as described in the script. It is where Malala Yousafzai is from and where she experienced firsthand the Taliban's oppressive rule, which included the bombing of schools and the denial of basic rights.

💡Human Rights

Human rights are the basic rights and freedoms to which all individuals are entitled. The script discusses how the Taliban's actions in Swat Valley violated these rights, particularly the rights of women and girls to education and freedom. Malala's advocacy work is centered around promoting and defending these rights.

💡Malala Fund

The Malala Fund is a nonprofit organization founded by Malala Yousafzai, aimed at ensuring every girl worldwide has access to 12 years of free, quality education. The fund is mentioned in the script as a way for people to get involved and support her mission.

💡Peace

Peace is the state of harmony and the absence of hostility or conflict. Malala Yousafzai discusses the importance of peace in the script, advocating for dialogue and education as means to achieve it. Her message is that peace should be pursued through non-violent means.

💡Terrorism

Terrorism is the use of violence and intimidation to achieve political aims. In the script, Malala describes the acts of terrorism committed by the Taliban in Swat Valley, including the bombing of schools and the killing of innocent people, which underscore the need for her advocacy.

💡Child Labor

Child labor refers to the employment of children in various forms of work that is harmful to their mental, physical, social, or moral development. Malala mentions child labor in the script as one of the issues that education can help combat, as it剥夺s children of their right to learn and grow.

💡Equality

Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. Malala Yousafzai speaks about gender equality in the script, asserting that women and men should have equal rights and opportunities, including access to education.

💡Advocate

An advocate is a person who publicly supports or recommends a particular cause or policy. Malala Yousafzai is described as an advocate for girls' education in the script, using her platform to raise awareness and promote change.

Highlights

Malala Yousafzai is an advocate for girls' access to education worldwide.

Malala is the youngest person ever to be nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Her book, 'I Am Malala,' tells the story of her fight for education and the attack by the Taliban.

Malala emphasizes the importance of education, especially for women, as a source of power.

The Taliban's arrival in Swat Valley in 2004 initially seemed benign, but their true nature was revealed in 2007 with violence and school bombings.

Malala's father was a significant influence, encouraging her to speak out for women's rights and education.

Despite threats from the Taliban, Malala continued to speak out publicly for education.

Malala's realization that the Taliban had targeted her came in 2012 after an online threat.

Malala's response to the threat was to consider fighting back peacefully and through education.

The Taliban's initial acceptance turned to fear and oppression as they imposed harsh rules and violence.

Malala believes that women are more powerful than men and advocates for gender equality.

Malala discusses the importance of education in teaching more than just academic subjects; it teaches values like equality and respect.

Malala calls for support for the Malala Fund to help educate girls in developing countries.

Malala addresses the impact of US drone attacks and the complexities of international relations in combating terrorism.

Malala believes that education is the key to ending wars and promoting peace.

The Malala Fund aims to provide education to girls in Syria, Afghanistan, and India, where they face different challenges.

Malala's message is that education is the simplest and most effective solution to the world's problems.

Transcripts

(electronic skittering)

(audience cheering) - Welcome back.

My guest tonight, she's an advocate

for girls' access to education worldwide,

is the youngest person ever to be nominated

for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Her new book is called I Am Malala:

The Girl Who Stood Up For Education

And Was Shot By The Taliban.

Please welcome to the program

Malala Yousafzai.

(rousing orchestral music)

(audience applause and cheering)

- Nice to see you.

- Thank you.

- Thank you for being here.

- Thank you so much.

It's an honor for me.

- It is an honor for us.

I know me. (laughter)

This is--

By the way, we talked a little bit before the show.

Nothing feels better than making you laugh.

I will say that.

I enjoyed that very much. - (laughs) Thank you.

- I Am Malala.

It's honestly humbling to meet you.

You're 16.

Where did your love for education come from?

- We are human beings, and this is the part

of our human nature, that we don't learn

the importance of anything

until it's snatched from our hands.

And when, in Pakistan, when we were

stopped from going to school, at that time,

I realize that education is very important,

and education is the power for women;

and that's why the terrorists are afraid of education.

They do not want women to get education

because then women would become more powerful.

(audience applause) - Exactly.

Exactly right.

When did the Taliban come to Swat Valley?

Because before then, you describe it

as a paradise, of sorts.

- The Taliban came in 2004, but at that time,

they were quite good.

They did not show their,

the terrorism and they did not blast any

school at that time.

But they started the real terrorism in 2007.

They have blasted more than 400 schools in Swat.

They have slaughtered people,

and in the month of January 2009,

they used to slaughter even two, three people

every night, and they have flogged women.

We have seen the barbaric situation

of the 21st century, and we have seen...

the cruelty, and we have seen harsh days in our life;

and those we regarded as the darkest days of our life.

So it was really hard for us at that time.

- You describe, in the book,

still, no matter what,

they took the signs off of schools.

They went underground.

But they continued in the face of--

You spoke out publicly against the Taliban.

What gave you the courage to continue this?

- You know, my father was great

encouragement for me, because he spoke of,

he spoke out for women's rights.

He spoke out for girls' education.

At that time, I said that, "Why shall I wait

"for someone else?

"Why shall I be looking to the government,

"to the army, that they would help us?

"Why don't I raise my voice?

"Why don't we speak up for our rights?"

The girls of Swat, they spoke up for their rights.

I started writing diary, I spoke on every

media channel that I could, and I raised my voice

on every platform that I could.

And I said, "I need to tell the world

"what is happening in Swat;

"and I need to tell the world that

"Swat is suffering from terrorism,

"and we need to fight against terrorism."

- When did you realize...

the Taliban had made you a target?

- When, in 2012, we were--

I was with my father, and someone came,

and she told us that, "Have you seen on Google

"that if you search your name,

"the Taliban have threatened you?"

And I just could not believe it.

I said, "No, it's not true."

And even after that threat, when we saw it,

I was not worried about myself that much.

I was worried about my father,

because we thought that the Taliban are not

that much cruel, that they would kill a child,

because I was 14 at that time.

But then later on, I used to start--

I started thinking about that,

and I used to think that the Talib

would come, and he would just kill me.

But then I said, "If he comes,

"what would you do, Malala?"

Then I would reply myself that,

"Malala, just take a shoe and hit him;"

but then I said... (laughter)

But then I said, "If you hit a Talib

"with your shoe, then there would be

"no difference between you and the Talib.

"You must not treat others that much

"with cruelty, and that much harshly.

"You must fight others, but through peace

"and through dialogue, and through education."

Then I said, "I'll tell him how important

"education is, and that I even want

"education for your children as well;"

and I would tell him, "that's what I want to tell you.

"Now do what you want."

(audience applause and cheering)

- Um.

I wanna ask you.

I know your father is backstage,

and he's very proud of you.

But would he be mad...

If I adopted you?

(laughter)

Because you sure are swell.

Could you stick around?

I wanna talk a little bit more about

Swat Valley and what it was like growing up there,

and how people can get involved through the Malala Fund,

and those types of things.

Do you have a little bit of time?

- Yeah, yeah, sure.

- That would be wonderful.

Thank you so much.

I Am Malala is on the bookshelves now.

Donate to the Malala Fund.

Visit www.malalafund.org .

Malala Yousafzai.

We'll be right back. (rousing orchestral music)

(audience applause)

- Wonderful to listen to you talk.

We're back: we're talking to Malala.

The book I Am Malala is on shelves right now.

Your love of school reminds me so much of my children.

(laughter)

Okay, maybe not.

The people of Swat Valley.

When the Talib first came,

they thought they're bringing order.

They're bringing services.

They established a court that was faster

than Pakistani courts. - Yeah.

- And the people responded.

When did that begin to turn?

- When the Taliban came, they were trying to convince

people, and they were just misusing the name of Islam,

and they were telling people, "We will just set up

"another court for you, and we will provide you

"justice on time;" because usually, in courts

in Pakistan, people dies and their case is

not yet resolving in the courts.

So that's what is happening in the courts of Pakistan.

So people just said like, "If the Taliban are doing it,

"why don't we support them?"

But then they were that much crueler.

They started slaughtering people,

and they even blasted a generator of electricity

and it was the month of Ramadan, in which we keep fast,

in which we don't eat on the day,

in which we don't drink for the whole day.

They blasted the electricity generators,

which was providing electricity

to the whole city of Mingora;

and we could not have water because it is,

electricity's related to water supply as well.

And people were sitting in the dark,

people could not buy electricity generators,

people were just sitting in the light of candles,

and people were just dying of thirst at that time.

But my father is a great father,

because he bought generator for the school

to create electricity and

to provide water to the street

and to that community, but still

many people were suffering from

that hard situation; and other than that,

our freedom was taken from us. - [Jon] Yes.

- The women's freedom.

We could not go to market,

we were not allowed to go to school,

we were just kept imprisoned.

We were just limited to the four walls of our house.

Women's rights were denied at that time,

and that's why I spoke.

Because I believe in equality,

and I believe that there is no difference

between a man and a woman.

I even believe that a woman is more powerful than men.

- What, wait! Whoa! (women cheering)

Wait, what? What? (Malala laughing)

I-- wait!

(whistling) You know, Malala...

This was going so well. (laughter)

You were doing so beautifully,

and then suddenly, bam!

This is the part that they,

they began to say, "You cannot dance.

- Yeah. - "You cannot,

"the women cannot do these things."

You say that many people believe this is a...

wrong interpretation of Islam, of the Koran.

Why have the Taliban,

and these more extreme groups,

been able to be successful?

Is it the fear that they bring to these towns?

Is that why the people have had a hard time throwing it off?

- The first thing is that, they were really cruel.

They had Kalashnikovs, they had guns in their hand.

And if I have a gun in my hand,

and I tell you something, 'do this,'

you have to do that, because it's for your life.

So there was fear all around.

That's why people could not say anything.

Then the second thing was that they were

misusing the name of Islam.

They were telling people that

"We are doing this for Islam,

"we are doing this for Allah,

"we are doing this for Prophet, peace be upon him."

So essentially, they were using religion

for their own personal benefit.

That's also the reason.

But then later on, people tried to realize this,

and the girls are very brave.

And girls in our school, like we were

at that time, we were just 11 or 12 years old.

But we spoke up for our rights to every media channel,

to every newspaper that we could.

And we did not know at that time that our small interview

would have an impact or not, but it had.

Because we were raising up our voice

and we were speaking up for our rights.

And we were speaking for peace in Swat.

We wanted to live a normal life,

because Swat is like a paradise on Earth.

I believe in two paradises:

one I'll get after death,

but the other one that is on Earth,

for me, that is Swat,

because Swat is really beautiful,

and you would be astonished when you see

the lush green hills, and when you see

the tall mountains, and the rivers that we have,

the crystal-clear water, and you can find trout,

so it's really beautiful: you'll love Swat.

- Malala, I'm from New Jersey.

(laughter and cheering) So...

I know a little something about paradise.

(laughter) The beaches--

It does, it sounds magnificent, and it's,

it is heartbreaking, because you see what

these children want, and what these people want,

is to just live in peace

without having this imposed on them.

- Yeah. - And I think--

We don't know what to do to help.

You know, there are passages in the book

about the United States.

And we come out great. (laughter)

But there is, there are attacks

in Swat and in those areas with drones,

and they talk about a man, a CIA agent,

who shot two men in Lahore.

Raymond-- - Davis.

- And this is,

I think we have a common want

and desire, but perhaps

are not accomplishing it

in the manner that shows the people...

how we feel; but in some ways,

we don't know what else to do.

What is your thought on that?

- I think that the people of America, the United States,

they truly support peace, and they say that

"We must not fight against war through war."

They believe that dialogue is the best way.

And we must try to find a solution for it.

And in my opinion, the solution that would work

to fight all these wars and all these problems

that people are facing, is only education.

Because you can--

you can stop war for a second,

but you don't know it would start again or not.

We have seen First World War,

we have seen Second World War,

and I think Third World War is coming;

but I believe that we must stop it now.

I don't want to see a Third World War in this world again.

And the best way to fight against this war is education

because, as we can see, the children are suffering

from terrorism, they are suffering from child labor

and child trafficking.

They are also suffering from

the cultural norms and tradition.

These are, there is not only one issue

that we are facing through.

There are many others as well.

So I think education is the best way.

People will be thinking, just going to school,

learning about chemistry, and physics, and maths,

and that's it.

Going to school is not only learning about

different subjects: it teaches you communication,

it teaches you how to live a life, it teaches you

about history, it teaches you about how science is working.

And other than that, you learn about equality;

because students are provided the same benches,

they sit equally, it shows us equality,

it teaches students how to live with others together,

how to accept each other's language,

how to accept each other's traditions

and each other's religion.

It also teaches us justice.

It also teaches us respect.

It teaches us how to live together.

So that's why I support the,

I support the idea of sending children to school,

because it is the best way to fight terrorism.

And I want people to support us in this cause,

and through Malala Foundation, we want to work

for education of girls in the developing countries,

especially in Syria now.

They are suffering, they are homeless now.

We want to help children in Afghanistan,

because they have been suffering from terrorism for decades.

We want to help the children of India as well,

because they are victims of child labor.

So I think issues and problems are enormous;

but solution is one, and that is simple.

That is education.

(Jon stammering)

(audience applause and cheering)

- I am humbled.

Humbled, to speak with you.

- Thank you. - I will say this.

I don't know where you come from, (laughter)

but I am very glad you're here.

Thank you for being here today.

(audience applause and cheering)

You're wonderful.

Please, get the book,

donate to the Malala Fund

by visiting www.malalafund.org .

Malala Yousafzai.

(audience applause and cheering)