DUBAI // The father of Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on Pakistanis in the UAE to stand with him for the cause of girls’ education.
Ziauddin Yousafzai joined Image Nation Abu Dhabi to launch a campaign for girls’ education within the Pakistani expatriate community.
The Stand with Ziauddin campaign was launched at a special screening of He Named Me Malala for Dubai's Pakistani community, attended by Malala and her father.
“I ask the fathers, brothers and sons in the audience to learn from my story and the relationship with my daughter,” Mr Yousafzai said. “Many people ask me how I helped Malala become the woman she is today. I tell them, it’s not what I did for her, it’s what I did not do. I did not clip her wings.”
Shiraz Sherwani, a Pakistani expat who attended the screening, said that after watching the documentary and listening to Malala and her father, he would stand by the campaign.
“The film is not just about Malala – it’s about a culture, a mindset that needs to be challenged,” said Mr Sherwani. “All those who think girls’ education is not important or girls shouldn’t do this or that – I think it is very important for these people to watch the documentary.”
Image Nation will host screenings of the documentary across the country.
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