A 15-year-old Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for promoting girls' education has been released from a Birmingham hospital to live with her family, doctors said today.
"She is quite well and happy on returning home — as we all are," Malala's father, Ziauddin, told reporters.
Malala will live with her family in the U.K. while she continues to receive treatment, but will be admitted again in the next month for another round of surgery to rebuild her skull.
Experts have been optimistic that Malala, has a good chance of recovery because the brains of teenagers are still growing and can better adapt to trauma.
"Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery," said Dr. Dave Rosser, the medical director for University Hospitals Birmingham.
"Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers."
Malala's case won worldwide recognition, and the teen became a symbol for the struggle for women's rights in Pakistan. She has garnered attention, both abroad and in her home country of Pakistan. In November last year, women held posters of the 15-year-old at a demonstration in Islamabad in appreciation of her plight.
The Taliban targeted Malala because of her relentless objection to the group's regressive interpretation of Islam that limits girls' access to education. She was returning home from school in Pakistan's scenic Swat Valley on Oct. 9 when the Taliban targeted her for criticizing their efforts to keep girls from getting an education. The militants have threatened to target Malala again because they say she promotes "Western thinking."
Pakistani doctors removed a bullet that entered her head and headed toward her spine. The decision to send Malala to Britain was taken in consultation with her family; Pakistan is paying for her treatment.
Malala will remain in Britain for now.
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