LONDON (AP)
-- A Pakistani schoolgirl who was shot in the head by the Taliban is in
stable condition after undergoing two successful operations to
reconstruct her skull and restore her hearing, the British hospital
treating her said Sunday.
Birmingham's Queen
Elizabeth Hospital said doctors for 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai, who
was targeted for advocating girls' education, were "very pleased" with
her progress after five hours of skull reconstruction and ear surgery on
Saturday.
"She is awake and talking to staff
and members of her family," the hospital said in a statement, adding
that she would continue to recover in the hospital until she is well
enough to be discharged.
The teenager drew the
world's attention when she was shot by Taliban militants on Oct. 9 on
her way home on a school bus in northwestern Pakistan. The Islamist
group said they targeted her because she promoted girls' education and
"Western thinking" and criticized the militant group's behavior when it
took over the scenic Swat Valley where she lived.
At
age 11, Malala began to write a blog under a pseudonym for the BBC
about life under the Taliban in the Swat Valley. After Pakistan's
military ousted the militants in 2009, she began publicly speaking out
about the need for girls' education. She appeared frequently in the
media and was given one of the country's highest civilian honors for her
bravery.
The shooting sparked outrage in
Pakistan and around the world, and her story has captured global
attention for the struggle for women's rights in Pakistan. In a sign of
her reach, the teen made the shortlist for Time magazine's "Person of
the Year" for 2012.
Malala was airlifted to
Britain from Pakistan in October to receive specialized medical care and
protection against further Taliban threats. She is expected to remain
in the U.K. for some time after her father, Ziauddin, was given a
diplomatic post based in the English city of Birmingham.
So
far, doctors say she has made very good progress. She was able to
stand, write and return home, and doctors said they have seen minimum
signs of brain damage.
Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
