Nobel laureate Malala Yousafza has stirred up controversy in Pakistan, this time over her candid interview with British Vogue, according to the Times of India.
During the interview, Malala, who originally hails from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of Pakistan, reportedly said: “You know, on social media, everyone’s sharing their relationship stories, and you get worried…If you can trust someone or not, how can you be sure?
“I still don’t understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can’t it just be a partnership?”
Her remarks immediately went viral and set off a firestorm on the social media, with lawmakers, clerics, academicians as well as a section of the public accusing her of making statements that conflict with religious values, said the Times of India report
The issue was discussed in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly on Friday with members of the opposition urging her family to clarify Malala’s position, reports Pakistani newspaper Dawn.
‘Taken out of context’
Malala’s father Ziauddin Yousafzai was asked to explain her stance on the subject, terming the statement disturbing.
“A news report has been making the rounds on social media since yesterday that your daughter Malala Yousafzai has categorically rejected the institution of marriage and said that ‘partnership’ is better than getting married,” Mufti Shahabuddin Popalzai, imam and khateeb of Peshawar’s Qasim Ali Khan Masjid, wrote on Twitter, tagging Ziauddin Yousafzai.
“We are all deeply disturbed by this statement. Please explain,” he added.
Malala’s father refuted the claims and said her comments had been taken out of context and its meaning twisted by others.
“Respected Mufti Popalzai Sahib, there is no truth in it. The media and social media have taken an excerpt of her interview out of context and shared it with their own interpretations. And that's it,” responded Ziauddin via his verified Twitter handle, the TOI report adds.
