UN secretary-general reiterates supports for Malala Yousafzai

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reiterated his support for Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani Nobel Laureate and girls' education advocate, who has come under a renewed volley of attacks in her homeland.

Moon's deputy spokesman, Farhan Haq, told reporters Tuesday: "The Secretary-General has made clear his support for Malala, for her goals, for the cause of girls' education and he continues to stand by that. So he is very clear that the work she's doing is in line with the work of the United Nations, and we will support her in those efforts."

Haq was answering a reporter's question about UN reactions to observance of "I Am Not Malala Day" Monday by the All Pakistan Private School Federation and its organizer's accusation that Malala's book, "I Am Malala," is against Islam and Pakistan.

Answering another question on Pakistan, Haq said in a carefully calibrated response, "We are concerned about attacks on religious minorities, including in Pakistan in recent day." He referred to a statement issued by Moon recently about the treatment of minorities in Pakistan and calling for action against the attackers and said, "We stand by the sentiments expressed in that statement."

In the latest attack Nov. 4, a Christian couple was burned to death by a mob in a brick kiln in Kot Radha Kishan village, about 60 km from Lahore, after rumours spread that the husband had desecrated a Koran.