Malala: Take My Name Off Pakistan College

Students fear attacks over school's link to teen activist
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Dec 21, 2012 8:19 AM CST
Malala: Take My Name Off Pakistan College
A Pakistani police officer stands guard outside the college which was named after Malala Yousufzai, in Swat, Pakistan on Friday, Dec. 21, 2012.   (AP Photo/Sherin Zada)

The 15-year-old Pakistani girl who was shot by the Taliban for promoting girls' education has urged Pakistan to reverse a decision to rename a college in her honor. Malala Yousufzai wants to avert militant attacks on students, an official said today. The teen, who became a symbol of youth resistance to the Taliban, made the request after students broke into the school, tore down Malala's pictures, and boycotted classes in her hometown of Mingora. They said renaming the college endangered their lives.

The official says Malala called him from London, where she was being treated for critical wounds from the attack on Oct. 9. The Taliban said it targeted her for promoting education for secular girls. Malala's case won worldwide recognition for the struggle for women's rights in Pakistan and the Taliban have vowed to target her again. (Malala made the short-list for Time's Person of the Year.)

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