Malala to officially receive honorary Canadian citizenship

OTTAWA: Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, will officially receive her honorary Canadian citizenship later this month, announced the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The Taliban tried to assassinate Yousafzai in Pakistan when she was 15, as she dared to speak up for the right of girls to attend school.

She became an international activist and was named a co-winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, the youngest-ever to receive the distinction.

Yousafzai, 19, is scheduled to address Canada’s Parliament on April 12, when she will officially receive the honour.

The honorary citizenship was actually bestowed in 2014 but the ceremony was cancelled in light of the deadly Parliament Hill attack.

“Ms. Yousafzai’s courageous response to those who threatened her life, and her advocacy for girls’ education, has inspired many millions of people around the world. Her story is one of determination and dignity, and Canada is proud to call her an honorary citizen of this great country,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a news release Monday.

“The people of Canada are leading the world in their response to the refugee crisis,” said Yousafzai in a statement. “I am honoured by Parliament’s invitation and look forward to visiting this great nation of heroes.”

Malala is only the sixth person to become an honorary Canadian; others include the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela and Aung San Suu Kyi.