Topline
Malala Yousafzai, a human rights activist, announced that she had married her "partner of life" in a small ceremony held in Birmingham, England. This was nearly a decade after Malala was assassinated by the Taliban for campaigning for girls' education.
Malala Yousafzai is seen at a dinner and party hosted in London by Tiffany & Co. and British Vogue during London... [+] Fashion Week. Dave Benett/Getty Images
The Key Facts
Yousafzai stated Tuesday afternoon that the couple tied the knot with an Islamic ceremony called a "nikkah", which involves signing a contract. Yousafzai's photos show Asser and her husband sitting in front of trees and with her parents, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and Toor Pekai Yousafzai. Yousafzai stated that the couple are excited to "walk together for this journey ahead" and asked her followers for prayers for her and her husband.
Tangent
Yousafzai seems to have changed her mind about marriage. She expressed doubts about the idea in a June interview with British Vogue. She told British Vogue that she still doesn't get why people must marry. "If you are looking for a partner, why must you sign marriage papers? It can be a partnership.
Important Background
Yousafzai, who was just 15 years old, was being driven home from school in Pakistan's Swat valley by a Taliban gunman in 2012. The conservative Islamic group was increasing in power in the area and targeted her for her education campaigning. A bullet that entered her neck and reached her shoulder struck Yousafzai in the left side. After being shot, she fled with her family to the United Kingdom for treatment. International outrage erupted at the news of the attempted assassination. Yousafzai continues to fight for human rights and is cofounder of Malala Fund. This fund aims to ensure that girls around the world have access to quality education for 12 years. Yousafzai, now 17, was the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner in the world. She graduated from Oxford University in 2020. Yousafzai wrote an opinion piece for the New York Times in August about the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. Yousafzai wrote, "Afghan girls are once more where I have been -- in despair at the thought that they might never see a classroom again or hold a textbook again."
