Malala Yousafzai becomes Canadian national
Shares
Malala Yousafzai became only the sixth person to receive honorary Canadian citizenship Wednesday, before advocating in a speech to parliament for women and girls' education -- a cause dear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau." style="margin:0.8em 0px 0px">Ottawa (AFP) - Nobel Peace laureate Malala Yousafzai became only the sixth person to receive honorary Canadian citizenship Wednesday, before advocating in a speech to parliament for women and girls' education -- a cause dear to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Wearing an orange hijab, the traditional Muslim veil, and a green dress, the young woman was welcomed to the seat of Canada's democracy in Ottawa by Trudeau.
At age 19, Yousafzai is the youngest person to speak to Canadian members of parliament and senators in a joint session.
She is also the youngest to receive honorary Canadian citizenship -- a privilege previously granted to Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama (Tenzin Gyatso), religious leader Karim Aga Khan IV, Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (posthumously) and Burmese leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Yousafzai had fought for years for the right of girls to education in her strictly Muslim home region in Pakistan.
She leaped to global fame after a Taliban gunman shot her in the head on a school bus in October 2012 for defending her right to attend school.
She has lived in the English city of Birmingham, where she continues to advocate for women's rights, since a successful operation following the attack.
During a ceremony inside the Gothic Revival halls of Canada's parliament, Trudeau praised Yousafzai for her advocacy.
Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan who has done tremendous things for the people of her country and for the children of the world," he said." style="margin:0.8em 0px 0px">"Today we proudly bestow honorary Canadian citizenship on Malala Yousafzai, a young woman from Pakistan who has done tremendous things for the people of her country and for the children of the world," he said.
"Malala, your story is an inspiration to us all," he said.
- 'I Am Malala' added -
Yousafzai was given the Canadian flag from atop the Peace Tower at the entrance of parliament, and a copy of her 2013 book "I Am Malala" was added to the parliamentary library.