AUDDIN Yousafzai the father of Pakistani schoolgirl Malala shot by the Taliban has written an open letter to the parents of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram that he and his daughter will never abandon them.
Malala Yousafzai, 17, was shot by a Taliban gunman in 2012 over her outspoken views on education for girls in her home region of northwest Pakistan. In May last year, a painted portrait of Malala fetched $102,500 at an auction on in New York and she immediately donated the money to the Chibok cause.
In July last year, Malala paid a solidarity visit to Nigeria where she met President Goodluck Jonathan to press for more action to free the Government Girls Secondary School Chibok pupils. She also met with some of the girls who managed to escape from Boko Haram and also had an audience with the parents of those pupils still in captivity.
In April last year, Boko Haram abducted over 200 school pupils from Government Girls Secondary School Chibok and has held them in captivity ever since. Re-emphasising their solidarity with the Chibok girls, Mr Yousafzai wrote an open letter to their parents, saying he and his daughter will not give up the fight.
Mr Yousafzai wrote: "Dear parents of the kidnapped schoolgirls of Chibok, my heart is heavy as I write to you on the eve of the 300th day since your beloved daughters have been taken from you. You are in my prayers every day as you have known a pain no parent should ever know.
"It was this past July when Malala and I sat with you as you shared stories of your brave daughters, shed tears with you and prayed with you for their safe return. We challenged President Goodluck Jonathan to meet with you, acknowledge your pain, acknowledge the sacrifice your daughters made to achieve an education, and promise his support."
Malala and Kailash Satyarthi won the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize for their struggle against the suppression of children and young people and for the right of all children to education. In continued defiance of Boko Haram and groups opposed to girls' education, the Chibok girls who escaped from abduction have vowed to continue their education.
