I Am Malala Characters

Malala’s youngest brother (seven years younger than she), Atal isn’t a major character in I Am Malala, despite his blood ties to Malala herself. He’s depicted as a rambunctious young boy, more interested in games and jokes than rights and education (understandably, considering his age).

The man who drives children in Mingora to school, and the man who’s driving the bus when a Taliban soldier shoots Malala.

Malala’s best friend in the town of Mingora, Moniba is an intelligent student, who is often runner-up to Malala in her exam scores. She’s shown to be brave and interested in politics, two qualities that endear her to Malala.

A fellow student of Malala, who is injured by the Taliban soldier who shoots Malala.

A fellow student of Malala, who is injured by the Taliban soldier who shoots Malala.

Ziauddin’s cousin, and one of the only family members who celebrates Malala’s birth.

A prominent military and political leader who controlled the Swati Valley during its supposed “Golden Age,” the period between 1945 and 1969.

A friend of Ziauddin’s brother-in-law, who was instrumental in helping Ziauddin continue his education at an advanced level.

A renowned Pakistani poet, and the namesake of Ziauddin’s Khushal School, as well as the namesake of Khushal, Ziauddin’s son.

A long-time friend of Ziauddin, with whom Ziauddin makes plans to found a school. Mohammed becomes irritated with Ziauddin when they run into difficulties raising money, and they part on bad terms.

A girl in Malala’s community who makes eloquent speeches, and inspires Malala to make speeches of her own.

A mufti (Islamic scholar) who lives in Malala’s town of Mingora. He repeatedly tries to force Ziauddin to shut down his school, on the grounds that it’s sacrilegious to educate women.

Benazir Bhutto’s successor as the president of Pakistan, Asif Zardari appears toward the end of I Am Malala, where he’s instrumental in first delaying, then paying for Malala’s transportation to England and her medical treatment there.

An influential BBC reporter who publishes information about women’s lives under the Taliban, and, thanks to Ziauddin, arranges for Malala to write a diary about her life.

An American reporter for the New York Times who produces a documentary about women’s lives under the Taliban and shoots footage of Malala.

An acquaintance of Ziauddin who brings Malala to Islamabad, where Malala is exposed to Western culture, and to a society that encourages women to be educated and empowered.

A Christian woman living in Pakistan who is controversially sentenced to death for criticizing Islam.

An aunt of Malala, who lives in a seaside city but, thanks to repressive laws for women, has never seen the ocean.

The renowned founder of Pakistan, whose tomb Malala visits during the course of her visit to the city of Karachi.

A reporter who warns Malala that the Taliban are trying to kill her.

A young boy, only slightly older than Malala, who tells Malala that he loves her.

A math teacher at Malala’s school who claims to have had a premonition about Malala’s attack.

An important chief in the Pakistani army (no relation to Javid Kayani), who, following Malala’s shooting, arranges for Malala to be treated in a Pakistani military hospital, and later plays an important role in delaying Malala’s transportation to superior medical facilities in England.

A British doctor who travels to Pakistan to treat Malala following her shooting by the Taliban. She strongly encourages doctors to transport Malala to superior medical facilities, and later becomes Malala’s guardian when Malala is transported to England.

An English doctor who travels to Pakistan to treat Malala following her shooting by the Taliban. He later becomes one of her most frequent companions when she’s in a hospital in Birmingham. (No relation to General Kayani.)

A young woman who speaks out for women’s rights alongside Malala.

A Muslim chaplain who visits Malala during her time in the Birmingham hospital.

The Pakistani interior minister, Rehman Malik delays Malala’s treatment in England after she’s shot by the Taliban, because he doesn’t want to embarrass Pakistan. He’s also concerned that Malala will seek political asylum in England, which would be even more embarrassing for his country.

A Taliban soldier who takes credit for shooting Malala, and is, at the end of I Am Malala, still at large.

A Taliban soldier who was arrested for trying to assassinate President Musharraf in 2003. He later writes a letter to Malala, in which he expresses his shock that the Taliban tried to kill her.

An intermittent prime minister of Pakistan in the late 90s and early 2000s.

A young but highly experienced doctor who saves Malala’s life by performing a complicated surgery after she’s shot in the head.

The British foreign minister.

The foreign minister of the United Arab Emirates.

The former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the U.N. special envoy for education, later an important ally of Malala and Ziauddin.

The brother of Tor Pekai, and an important influence on Ziauddin’s moral education.

The dictator of Pakistan at the end of the Cold War, General Zia ul-Haq was an important factor in promoting religious extremism in his country, and thus encouraging the rise of the Taliban.

The 44th President of the United States, and a hero of Malala.

The secretary general of the United Nations.

A legendary heroine of the Pashtuns, Malala’s ethnic group, Malalai is Malala’s namesake. In the 19th century, Malalai led the Pashtuns in a successful uprising against the British Empire, resulting in one of the only defeats in the Empire’s long history.

A poet, philosopher, and disciple of Mahatma Gandhi, whose writings influence Malala in her commitment to peace, freedom, and education.

The principal of Malala’s school.

Malala’s aunt, who is killed by her doctor when she goes in for treatment.

The commander of the Pakistani army, and a (sometimes) reluctant ally of Malala in the second half of the memoir.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, criticized by Malala for his lack of interest in women’s rights.

And old friend of Ziauddin, attacked and nearly murdered by the Taliban in 2009.