Jackson Lee seeks support for giving gold medal to Pakistani shooting victim

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) has asked her House colleagues to support the awarding of a congressional gold medal to Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani youth who was shot last week by the Taliban.

Yousufzai was shot after arguing for the right to an education, and was taken to a British hospital. On Thursday, it was reported that her family was flown to England to meet her.

"Malala ... stood against the oppressive policies imposed upon the citizens of Pakistan by the Taliban," Jackson Lee wrote in a "Dear Colleague" letter to House members, according to News Track India. "Her stand for education for girl and gender equality resulted in a fatwa issued by the Taliban calling for her death.

"It is my firm belief that we should honor her message and recognize her bravery," she added. "I, like all of you, value the need for education, justice, and gender equality. Join me in supporting this legislation to honor Malala Yousufzai and her message."

Last week, a bipartisan group of Senate women called on Pakistani Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf to aggressively prosecute Yousufzai's attackers.

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