“Yes we have banned Malala’s book because it carries the content which is against our country’s ideology and Islamic values,” Kashif Mirza, chief of All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, told the Agence France-Presse news agency.”
– NBC News Article – (http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/11/10/21393909-pakistani-private-schools-ban-malala-yousafzai-autobiography?lite)
The thought of such a figure having her story censored and unavailable in her own country is something that may come as a surprise to many. Nevertheless, Pakistani private schools have banned Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography I am Malala due to beliefs dominant in the local culture. The debate as to wether this is a wise decision is one that can easily be argued equally as strong from both angles.
One may argue that this censoring is a violation of the personal rights of students in Pakistan. The argument that students should be able to read this novel in an academic setting has valid reasoning. The book pertains to social, feminist, and religious problems that are currently plaguing the nation. One can easily argue as Kashif Mirza (Head of Pakistani Private Schools) did: “Through this book, she became a tool in the hands of the Western powers.” Although this may seem slightly paranoid or the result of a conspiracy theory, the book is published and distributed by Hachette Book Group, a company based out of France.
The opposite view that may be taken is that the officials in charge reserve the right to ban this book. Cultural sensitivity is a value that is becoming ever more important into a world of increased globalisation. The right of the Pakistani Public School board to follow the religious practices and values is something that must be respected to some level. Even if one were to disagree with the policy, one must certainly agree with the right to religious freedom. However, banning a book straddles the line of religious freedom and religious oppression.
Censoring life narratives is something that is not new. Whether for reasons that most can agree on (Mein Kampf in Germany) or one that can be hotly contested (The 1884 banning of Huckleberry Finn). In a country of increasing social change and conflict, the banning of Malala Yousafzai’s autobiography is something that will create a further divide. Liberals and conservatives are supplied with another tool in their arsenal of arguments. It is easy to dismiss the banning of the book as ‘another country censoring their citizens’, but one must look at the other view; that in banning this book the religious traditions of Pakistan were, in fact, upheld.
In the book description on Amazon (I am Malala on Amazon.com), the book is described: “I AM MALALA will make you believe in the power of one person’s voice to inspire change in the world.” However, what happens when this one person’s voice is silenced, and ceases to inspire change in her own nation?
2 Comments
Evan, I’m glad you chose to talk about Malala in your blog. Her story is a riveting one, and the fact that her book is being banned in Pakistan is scandalous. I wish you would have gone into more detail about her being “a tool in the hands of the Western powers.” What do you think about this? Is it fair of Kashif Mirza to claim? Does that give him the power to ban her book from all of the private schools? She has gained power not only in writing her book but also in all of her interviews and presentations within the Western world, and this power and visibility can also influence the students in her country. Malala’s book may be banned, but she still has the ability to inspire change in Pakistan.
I fully agree with your interest in such a compelling topic. I feel like “being a tool in the hands of Western Powers” can be construed as a propaganda speech from the aforementioned official. I also feel that the fact that the book was banned in such a way in something that may have an adverse affect in the long run, inspiring the youth to read her tale. Of course, you and I both hope that this is the case but many others would certainly put up an argument! I was so compelled by this development that I decided to write my term paper on a similar subject (The censorship of life narratives). It is almost unavoidable to draw the comparison to Satrapi’s Persepolis in Iran seeing as it was one of the texts studied in class.