In October 2013, Malala received the respected Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, chosen unanimously by the European political leaders. “Malala bravely defends the right of every child to have an education. This right is often denied to women, ” said Parliament President Martin Schulz in a statement. Also in October 2013, the autobiography “I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban”, written in partnership with the British journalist Christina Lamb. In the prologue, it reads: “I come from a country which was created at midnight. When I almost died it was just after midday. One year ago I left my home for school and never returned. I was shot by a Taliban bullet and was flown out of Pakistan unconscious. Some people say I will never return home but I believe firmly in my heart that I will. To be torn from the country that you love is not something to wish on anyone.”
