Abu Dhabi: Malala Yousafzai, the Pakistani education activist, has hailed the support of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan during her ordeal after being shot by Taliban gunmen.
“I was lucky to have the support of Shaikh Khalifa,” she said.
Malala also praised Her Highness Shaikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union, Supreme Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, for her involvement in various women’s issues.
After visiting Al Ru’yah Centre, which is affiliated with the General Women’s Union (GWU), Malala praised the important role of the GWU in resolving women’s issues and boosting their role in society. She also expressed her admiration at the level of education that Emirati women have reached, adding that she also wished to contribute to the spread of education in her country.
Reem Abdullah Eisa Al Falasi, secretary general of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood, welcomed Malala and briefed her on some programmes of the Union.
Malala expressed her admiration for the objectives and the achievements of the Al Ru’ya Centre, thanks to the directives of Shaikha Fatima, whom she considered a role model and a symbol of support for women of the UAE and the rest of the world.
During her meeting with Shaikha Fatima, Malala said that Shaikha Fatima underscored the importance of education being used to empower women and it being consistent with tolerant Islamic teachings and the importance of keeping away from extremism, fanaticism and introversion, which has affected some Islamic communities.
Shaikha Fatima, during the meeting, also pointed out that women need more support to realise that they are make up half of society and are the partners of men in the workplace and in efforts to build a coherent, stable family that serves as the backbone and strength of the homeland.
