Islamic clerics in Pakistan have issued a fatwa against the Taliban gunmen who attempted to kill a 14-year-old girl known for campaigning for the right of young females to an education. The Islamic scholars from the Sunni Ittehad Council publicly denounced attempts by the Pakistani Taliban to establish religious justifications for the shooting on Tuesday of Malala Yousafzai and two classmates.
A Taliban spokesman said they would attempt to kill Ms Yousafzai again if she recovers from her injuries. The attack has left Ms Yousafzai in a critical condition at a Pakistani military hospital after surgery to remove a bullet from near her spinal cord. Authorities are offering a reward of $100,000 (€77,000) for the capture of her attackers. A national day of prayer was observed for the young peace activist famous for a blog about life under the Taliban insurgency.
– (Guardian service)