The young Pakistani girl who defied the Taliban, got shot in the process but survived to further shame the violent fundamentalist organization will visit Oslo next month. She’ll have a full program, meeting top Norwegian leaders and those within the Pakistani community in Norway.
Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban while riding home on her school bus in 2012. She now lives in Birmingham, England, where her family also fled after the attack. Aamir Sheikh, leader of the Pakistani 14th of August Committee in Norway, and former Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik have organized her visit to Oslo, which will include meetings with Prime Minister Erna Solberg, President of the Parliament Olemic Thommessen and Foreign Minister Børge Brende.
All three have been harshly criticized for refusing to meet the Dalai Lama when he comes to Oslo next week, for fear of further offending Chinese officials. They all cleared their schedules, however, for the heroic girl best known simply as “Malala” when she arrives on June 14.
Newspaper Aftenposten reported that she also will take part in a “bridge-building” effort between Norway and Pakistan at the Grand Hotel, meet with business leaders contributing to her investment fund for children’s education, and with the Norwegian Red Cross.
Her visit is set for a weekend, because Malala, now age 16, doesn’t want to miss school herself.
newsinenglish.no staff
