Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai gets married to Asser Malik in Birmingham ceremony

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai has married her partner during an Islamic ‘nikah’ ceremony in Birmingham.

Yousafzai, 24, ‘tied the knot’ with Asser Malik in a nikah ceremony, where the bride and groom formally agree to be married, with parents and family as witnesses. 

The internationally renowned activist from Birmingham described the occasion as “a precious day” in her life.

“Asser and I tied the knot to be partners for life,” she tweeted yesterday (Tuesday 9 November), sharing how they had taken part in a “small nikkah ceremony with family”.

“We are excited to walk together for the journey ahead,” she added.

Although not a legally binding contract, a nikah ceremony is the first step in an Islamic marriage and is usually followed by a civil ceremony.

The celebration was attended by Malala Yousafzai’s close friends and family as she wore a stunning pink outfit which her husband Asser Malik complimented with a matching tie.

Wedding guests shared photos of the couple cutting into a wedding cake decorated with heart-shaped ‘petals’ and featuring the bride and groom’s names.

The newly wed couple posed for photos with guests in front of a white and pink flower adorned backdrop, surrounded by pink, white and cream coloured flowers, candles and traditional gold-coloured ornaments.

Originally from Pakistan, the young women’s rights activist found refuge in Birmingham after being shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012 for speaking up for the the right of girls to be educated.

Aged only 15, she survived the vicious assault during which a militant boarded her school bus in north-western Swat valley and opened fire, wounding her and two of her close school friends.

Yousafzai was flown to the UK where she was treated at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham. After recovering from her near-fatal injuries, her family permanently relocated to the city.

Describing the West Midlands city as her “second home”, she attended Edgbaston High School and made friends throughout the city, spending a lot of time among young people at the Impact Hub in Digbeth. She was also invited to officially open the new Library of Birmingham in September 2013.

At the age of 17, she became the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which she initially accepted from Birmingham before attending a formal ceremony in Europe. She later went on to study at Oxford University, and has become a leading human rights campaigner, travelling the globe to promote equality.

As a teenager, Yousafzai met with presidents and prime ministers around the globe, including US President Barack Obama at the White House, and gave an address at the United Nations.

Since graduating from Oxford University last year, Malala has rallied for Afghan refugees following the US and UK withdrawal and has continued to campaign on a host of causes including education and climate, teaming up with young activist Greta Thunberg.

She has also appeared on the cover of British Vogue and signed a contract with Apple TV+ to produce documentaries.

The news of Malala Yousafzai’s marriage has been praised by well-wishers, with the announcement of the ceremony being liked tens of thousands of times online.

Among the high-profile well wishers, she has received congratulations online from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Jemima Goldsmith, legal campaigner Nazir Afzal and Sajid Javid MP.

WATCH | Malala Yousafzai Nobel Peace Prize speech in Birmingham: