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Private schools in Pakistan ban Malala Yousafzai’s book

The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation, which says it represents more than 152,000 institutions across the country, has decided that allowing pupils to read the book, I am Malala, would have a “negative” effect on them. The federation also said it believed the book was not entirely respectful of Islam.

The book will not be included in the schools’ curriculum, nor will it be stocked in school libraries. Pakistan’s most elite schools belong to the federation. The government does not plan to teach it in state schools, though it is not banned.

“The federation thought we should review the book, and having reviewed it we came to the decision that the book was not suitable for our children, particularly not our students,” said the federation’s president, Mirza Kashif. “Pakistan is an ideological country. That ideology is based on Islam…. In this book are many comments that are contrary to our ideology.”