Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai’s portrait was unveiled at Oxford University’s Lady Margaret Hall, making her the second Pakistani woman, after the late former prime minister Benazir Bhutto, to have her portrait displayed at the university.

 

The portrait was painted by artist Isabella Watling and was unveiled at an event attended by nearly 200 people, including Oxford alumni, academics and members of Malala’s family. Those present also included her parents Ziauddin Yousafzai and Toor Pekai Yousafzai, her brother Khushal Khan Yousafzai and her husband Asser Malik.

 

Speaking to a private news channel, Malala said Benazir Bhutto remained a source of inspiration for her and described it as an honour that her portrait would be placed at the same college where Bhutto’s portrait is displayed.

 

“Benazir is not only an inspiration for women in Pakistan but for women around the world. I have always adored her,” she said.

 

Malala said countries should act in line with human rights and said Muslim countries also had a responsibility to condemn the Taliban’s actions. She said the Taliban must understand that acquiring knowledge is part of faith and that denying girls education in the name of religion was not acceptable.

 

“This is an extremely dangerous time regarding the ban on girls’ education in Afghanistan,” she said, adding that Taliban were stripping girls of their fundamental right to education.

 

She also said that preventing girls from receiving education was against the message of Islam. “The Taliban are not allowing women to go outside their homes or work, and the future of children there looks bleak.”

 

Malala said Afghan women and girls continued to pursue education despite restrictions. “Afghan women and girls have not lost hope and are still pursuing education through secret schools and online learning,” she said.

 

“I stand with Afghan girls and is supporting their projects. I call on Pakistanis to show solidarity with Afghans and condemn the Taliban’s actions.”

 

Malala studied Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University and graduated in 2020. She is a member of the advisory body of the Oxford Pakistan Programme, which aims to build academic links between Oxford and Pakistan, and provides scholarships for Pakistani and British-Pakistani students.