I am writing with regard to the report "Malala eyes politics to ‘change the future' of Pakistan'" (Oct. 8). When the Taliban targeted Malala Yousafzai in October last year, they could never have imagined what a mistake they were going to make. They presented the world with, in the words of former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, an icon of courage and hope. The world learned about Malala when she secretly recorded in her diary what she observed and felt during the Taliban's occupation of the Swat valley in 2007/08. Those were terrible times when Pakistanis experienced a reign of terror in the form of the Taliban's ruthless rule in Swat. Those violating the Taliban's code of conduct and other opponents were lashed or publicly hanged in Mingora's main square, which was called Khoni Chowk (Bloody Square) after summary trials in so-called Shariah courts. Female education was ended; girl students and their teachers were warned of dire consequences if they ever tried to attend schools. Since the Taliban have been expelled from Swat, the situation has improved, but fear and uncertainty still govern the valley. Despite open threats from the Taliban, Malala continued to live in Swat as no one thought that the Taliban would target a child. But an icon was created when the Taliban attacked her on her way home from school. Since then Malala has not looked back and has moved forward with courage and determination. She was at the UN in July addressing a youth assembly on her 16th birthday. She is now one of the top runners for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. Although the world loves and respects the courage and dedication of this teenager for the advancement of education, especially for the education of girls in the developing world, we regret that there has been no change in the Taliban's stance toward her. They have repeatedly threatened to attack her if she ever attempts to return home. Obviously this is what we would expect from them. However, we feel ashamed of those Taliban apologists who continue to weave conspiracy theories declaring Malala to be a Western stooge, working to defame Islam and Pakistan. As her schoolmates pray in secret for her to win the Nobel Prize, one can dream that one day her aspirations will be realized and her classmates will no longer need to pray in secret. Masood Khan, Jubail
