Summary

Chapter 7: “The Mufti Who Tried to Close Our School”

A mufti is a religious leader with the power to make decisions for the community. In this case, the mufti who begins paying too much attention to Malala’s father is a self-proclaimed leader. Ziauddin’s school is doing well and Malala says her mother has the money to buy things for herself and even sometimes sends out for food for the family rather than preparing it herself. Malala cites the constant turmoil since the origin of Pakistan. The mufti in the Swat Valley approaches the woman who owns the property being used by Ziauddin’s school, demanding that she cancel his lease. The owner refuses but alerts Malala’s father to the situation. The mufti accuses Ziauddin of running a “harem” in the school building. The elders of the community become...