Canada to offer Malala honorary citizenship
10/17/2013 6:34:47 AM
Malala Yousafzai, the 16-year-old shot by the Taliban for championing girls' rights to education, will be offered honorary Canadian citizenship, a government source said Wednesday.
The announcement is expected in a speech later in the day outlining the Canadian government's upcoming legislative agenda, according to the senior official.
Malala will become just the sixth person to be granted honorary Canadian citizenship, following in the footsteps of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Aga Khan.
Malala was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban on October 9, 2012, for speaking out against them, demanding that girls be given the right to go to school.
She was flown to Britain for specialist care and made a remarkable recovery, going on to become a global ambassador for children's rights.
Malala has also written an autobiography, addressed the United Nations and set up a fund.
The announcement is expected in a speech later in the day outlining the Canadian government's upcoming legislative agenda, according to the senior official.
Malala will become just the sixth person to be granted honorary Canadian citizenship, following in the footsteps of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama, Aung San Suu Kyi and the Aga Khan.
Malala was shot in the head by the Pakistani Taliban on October 9, 2012, for speaking out against them, demanding that girls be given the right to go to school.
She was flown to Britain for specialist care and made a remarkable recovery, going on to become a global ambassador for children's rights.
Malala has also written an autobiography, addressed the United Nations and set up a fund.