Malala receives honorary Canadian citizenship

By Barry Ellsworth

TRENTON, Ont. (AA) – Malala Yousafzai, the girl who survived after being shot in the head by the Taliban, received a rare gift Wednesday when she became only the sixth person to be named an honorary citizen of Canada.

And Wednesday afternoon, the 19-year-old Pakistani made history when she became the youngest person to address a joint session of parliament in the Canadian capital of Ottawa.

Malala was to have received the citizenship in 2014 but the ceremony was canceled after a terrorist attack at the National War Memorial in Ottawa killed one soldier.

After sustained applause that broke out several times in parliament on Wednesday, the woman known worldwide as Malala addressed the 2014 incident.

“The man who attacked Parliament Hill called himself a Muslim, but he did not share my faith,” she said. “He did not share the faith of one and a half billion Muslims, living in peace around the world. He did not share our Islam – a religion of learning, compassion and mercy.

“I am Muslim and I believe that when you pick up a gun in the name of Islam and kill innocent people, you are not a Muslim anymore.”

Malala also said the gunman who killed six Muslims at prayer in a Quebec City mosque Jan. 29 “shared the hatred” with the Parliament Hill attacker.

Before her address, she praised Canada for its dedication to women’s issues, helping refugees and global peace, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

“You are a true example to the world of what it means to stand up for humanity and I’m hopeful that you will inspire many more countries, more leaders, to follow in your footsteps,” she said in a brief remarks inside the Library of Parliament prior to her address.

“If Canada leads, the world will follow,” Malala told hundreds of politicians, diplomats and others assembled in Parliament, including her parents.

Malala accepted her honorary citizenship and a Canadian flag from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau before her address.

The young Nobel Peace Prize laureate joins a list of honorary Canadians that that includes Nelson Mandala, the Dalai Lama and the Aga Khan.