UK & World News
- 11 October 2012, 4:10
Obama: Taliban Shooting Of Schoolgirl 'Barbaric'
US President Barack Obama has condemned the shooting of a teenage activist in Pakistan by the Taliban "barbaric" as schools across the country closed in protest and communities held vigils to pray for the girl.
Malala Yousufzai is in a critical condition after being shot in the head and neck when a gunman opened fire on her school bus in Pakistan's Swat Valley.
"I know that the President found the news reprehensible and disgusting and tragic," White House spokesman Jay Carney said.
He added US forces were ready to offer transport and treatment to the youngster if appropriate.
Fourteen-year-old Malala had spoken out against the Islamists in a blog - and her desire to go to school and become a doctor.
She became an overnight celebrity in the process, and was awarded Pakistan's highest civilian award after the army liberated Swat from Taliban control.
"She is a national asset to us. May Allah give her a long life. We are praying for her recovery. What happened to her was very bad," said banker Ahmed Abbas.
Pakistan's president, prime minister and heads of various opposition parties joined human rights groups and the United Nations to denounce the attack.
The UK's Foreign Office Minister Baroness Warsi also condemed the shooting as "cowardly".
"Through her inspirational-activism, Malala has bravely highlighted the need for education to be accessible to all children in Pakistan," she said.
"Our thoughts and prayers go to Malala and her friends and family, and to the people of Pakistan who have suffered so much from terrorism.
"They will always have our sympathy, our understanding, and our robust support in confronting terrorism and supporting education for all in Pakistan".
The Taliban claimed responsibility for shooting her saying she had been promoting Western culture and spoke out against them. They justified the shooting by citing passages from the Koran.
Special aircraft have been sent to Peshawar in case doctors want to move Malala to Dubai for treatment.
She remains in intensive care at a hospital in the northwestern city of Peshawar after surgeons removed a bullet from her neck.
Another girl on the bus was also wounded.
what do you think?
barbara
Steve, I think you meant to say condemn rather than condone! However, I wholeheartedly agree with you.
Steve Marshall
Thanks for the correction Barbara, English was never my strongest subject lol.
Aroush Mahmood
I am a Muslim girl well educated. Being a Muslim I have been so saddened and disgusted with this behavior. I personally hate some people in Pakistan who still think education is bad and against the religion. Islam is a peaceful religion... It has not given us the right to kill innocent people. Some muslims have given ñ names to the religion. I salute your encouragement Malala and pray Allah to give you plenty of good health... Bless you and I hope some muslims who have created critical conditions die they dont know how to follow our peaceful religion. they force and brainwash!!! Islam is not a forceful religion it is a Soft loving religion.
Jim Ford
"Islam is not a forceful religion it is a Soft loving religion." But the problem is Aroush, that there seems to be very many Muslims that don't hold the above view. As I've stated below, it's said that the taliban quoted a passage from the Koran as justification for the shooting. Do we know what the passage states?
stevie may
Come on now people, let's have some rational thinking - there are 1.6 billion muslims on this planet, the jihadists make up less than 0.1% of that number. I'm certain that muslims all around the world condemn this cowardly attack. . Just because the western media portray a continual diet of radical muslim preachers dosent mean all muslims are like that - remember that this attempted child murder goes against Allah, the Korean and prophet Mohammed himself.
stevie may
Koran, not Korean - thanks spellcheck. . .
Jim Ford
"remember that this attempted child murder goes against Allah, the Korean and prophet Mohammed himself." Do we actually know that?
simon calvert
Errr, and how many innocent babies women men and children are being killed every day by the Americans and our own soldiers, perhaps we should hear more about that.!!!!!
Jim Ford
It's said that the taliban quoted a passage from the Koran as justification for the shooting. Do we know what the passage states?
Tracey Walker
6:39pm on 10/10/2012
I would love to see british muslims views of this sickening backward behaviour just to see whether they are decent enough to remain in this country
Steve Marshall
8:13pm on 10/10/2012
All and i mean ALL Muslims should condone this shooting, she's only a 14yo school girl with her own views for Christ sakes, all female Muslims should aspire to be like this girl and i would welcome her into this country with open arms to continue her great work, i hope see pulls through and gets better very soon.