Taliban try to kill 14 year old girl

I suspect she is going to the QE in Birmingham because they have a lot of expertise in surgery and rehabilitation of soldiers shot and wounded in Afghanistan. I met someone who works there in theatre who was telling me about it. I think Malala would want a donation to a charity that supports the education of girls in Muslim countries. Any ideas folks?

So proud of the NHS that our doctors were on the spot and we can help. I'm trying to find a way to make a donation which would be relevant to the child or the hospital. If any one knows i would love to hear about it.

I think the Pakistani government are footing the bill actually (according to BBC) as well they might.

It is quite unbearable, and, like a coward, I have avoided reading too much about this. It is the complete impotence of all of us to do a thing about this terrible travesty of humanity - what can these people be thinking of? They must be totally brainwashed. Hence, I say again, (and duck) my total fear of the power of religions to be used for destructive ends. This is all truly appalling and beggars beleif.

Malala is coming to the UK and will get specialist medical care under the NHS, not only for her injuries but to help her cope with the trauma.

She is being brought over by the Pakistani military. She is still in a very serious condition. Sounds as if she still needs a lot of surgery. Let's hope she isn't suffering irrecoverable brain damage. Poor kid.

JessM Indeed, devoutly to be wished. Meanwhile, all the other girls in Afghansitan…

Malala is being brought to Uk for rehabilitation. Here's hoping that she will eventually recover from this terrible attack.

I think it entirely possible Greatnan - I think statistics like this need to be handled with care.

I understand that Malala has been moved to a military hospital where she should be under protection. Let's hope so.

I don't know, Jess - do you think many non-Pakistani young men would have felt the same? It could be that they would.

Sooner or later the sort of belief systems that denegrates stigmatises and controls part of society will fade away. Treating half of the human race to such barbaric practices as is happening in Afganistan will eventually be seen for what they are - medieval and wrong, but the problem for women who are part of these systems today is that this may not happen for decades.

Good point, JessM.

greatnan did they ask non-Pakistani men what they thought in that survey?

Whereas we think of Malala as a child, I wonder if she is not regarded this way in a community in which it is quite common for very young pubescent girls to be married. At 14, traditionally, she would probably be married and even have a child.

NFK You may very well be right about that. In fact, you probably are.

Perhaps Absent shooting the daughter is one way of controlling the parents, punishing them for not 'controlling' their girl and threatening other parents into keeping their daughters at home and stifled.

Words can't express the outrage I feel on behalf of this child - at just 14 that's what she is, a child.

The government of Pakistan and the so-called tribal leaders in that region should hang their heads in shame.

Having read some newspapers this afternoon, I have learned that this young woman not only defended female education but was also outspoken about many political issues. The fact, however, remains, that she is still a child with no real poitical power, so why did someone try to shoot her? How scared are these controlling men of a girl child speaking out? I hope that she recovers completely and quickly.

For the record, so far as I understand, the man with the gun approached the school bus and asked for Malala by name. Another pupil innocently pointed her out and, possibly, someone else denied that the figure pointed out was Malala. All three seem to have been shot. I don't know how the other two are doing.

the world truly does seem to have gone mad.

I am afraid the powerful do not usually give up their power voluntarily. If enough muslim men wanted to end the repression of their wives, sisters, daughters, they could do it. 25% of young, British-born, Pakistani men interviewed after the sexual grooming case agreed that young white girls were 'asking for it'.

Absent

Precisely, a faint hope. Arab Spring and all that.

Sad also that this repression of females goes hand in hand with another kind of repression, which I shall not name on this thread, but which I assume everyone reading this will understand.

Very sad news. Poor girl. I hope she gets the protection she needs and the education she wants.

I don't understand why you should think that is a possibility, POGS or perhaps it's just a faint hope.

Absent

I am well aware of that point!.

My comment was not factual, I was merely trying to say I hope there could be a chink of light in the minds of the populous,whichever tribal basis they operate from, that things could be challanged.