Earlier this month, Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize recipient and human rights activist – who has openly spoken about her feminist values - married Asser Malik in one private nikkah in Birmingham, UK. Photos of the day were shared on social media, in which the bride looks stunning in traditional dress and appears to be very popular.
But critics quickly stepped in to remind the 24-year-old of an old interview of hers in which she shared that she wasn’t too interested in getting married. The girl’s education advocate previously told him Vogue that she feels marriage is not for her. After that, Asser came along, they bonded, and she decided to marry her “best friend”.
Appears on BBC One‘NS The Andrew Marr Program, Malala said, “I am not against marriage, I am concerned about marriage and that is true of many girls around the world who have seen reports of child marriage and reports of forced marriage.”
She added that she sees an imbalance of power in marriages where “women compromise more than men”. “A lot of these customs are influenced by patriarchy and deviant regimes. So you have to question the system we live in and we have to question the status quo, but I’m lucky that I found someone who understands my values,” she said.
Malala also said her husband “understands [her] sense of humour” and they “have a lot in common”.
She also wrote an article for Vogue last week in which she explained her previous doubts and what she thinks now that she is married. “I am not against marriage, but I am cautious about its practice,” the November 11 article read.
“I questioned the institution’s patriarchal roots, the compromises women were expected to make after marriage, and how the law regarding relationships was influenced by cultural norms. culture and deviant regimes in many parts of the world. I was afraid of losing my humanity, my independence, my women’s rights – my solution was to avoid marriage.
“My conversations with my friend, mentor, and current partner Asser have helped me see how I can have a relationship – a marriage – and remain true to my values. my equality, justice and integrity,” Malala wrote.
Today marks a precious day in my life.
Asser and I tied the knot to become life partners. We celebrated a small nikkah ceremony at home in Birmingham with our family. Please send us your prayers. We are very excited to be walking together for the journey ahead.
: @malinfezehai pic.twitter.com/SNRgm3ufWP– Malala (@Malala) November 9, 2021
She also shared that she met her husband in the summer of 2018, when “Asser was visiting friends in Oxford”. “He works in cricket, so I immediately had a lot to discuss with him. He likes my sense of humour. We have become close friends. We found we had common values and enjoyed each other’s company. We have stood together in moments of happiness and disappointment. Through our personal ups and downs, we talked and listened to each other…”
She added that she “found a best friend and companion” – that she still doesn’t “have all the answers to the challenges women face”, but believes she can “enjoy friendship, love and marital equality”.
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