Nobel Peace Prize call for Malala

Thousands of people have called for a Nobel Peace Prize for Malala Yousafzai, who was shot fighting for education in Pakistan.

Malala, 15, has the support of more than 60,000 people backing a petition to nominate her for the prestigious award.

The call comes ahead of tomorrow’s global day of action marking one month since Malala was shot in the head by the Taliban.

Malala, who is widely known as a campaigner for girls’ education in Pakistan, was attacked with two other schoolgirls travelling home from school in the Swat Valley last month.

The gunman who boarded the van in which she was travelling asked for her by name before firing three shots at her.

In early 2009, she wrote an anonymous blog about life under the Taliban, who had banned all girls in her area from attending school.

Speaking on behalf of Malala, her father Ziauddin Yousafzai said she wanted to thank well-wishers for helping her to “survive and stay strong”.

Malala was flown to the UK for specialist treatment at Birmingham’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital after escaping death by inches when a bullet “grazed” her brain on Oct 9. Mr Yousafzai, his wife and their two sons flew to the UK last month to be with Malala.

Mr Yousafzai said: “She wants me to tell everyone how grateful she is and is amazed that men, women, and children from across the world are interested in her well-being.

“We deeply feel the heart- touching good wishes of the people across the world of all caste, colour, and creed.”

Malala has received thousands of gifts, cards, and messages of support since arriving in Birmingham on Oct 15.

Among the gifts was pocket money “for sweets”, school books, and jewellery, while whole classes of pupils have written letters backing Malala’s education fight.