Malala says ‘heartbroken’ by Trump order

new york — Malala Yousafzai, the student activist and Nobel Peace laureate, said on Friday she was “heartbroken” by Donald Trump’s order on refugees and urged the US president not to abandon the world’s “most defenceless”.

“I am heartbroken that today President Trump is closing the door on children, mothers and fathers fleeing violence and war,” said the 19-year-old, shot in the head by the Taleban in 2012 after publicly advocating education for girls.

“In this time of uncertainty and unrest around the world, I ask President Trump not to turn his back on the world’s most defenceless children and families,” she added in a statement just moments after Trump signed the decree.

“I am heartbroken that America is turning its back on a proud history of welcoming refugees and immigrants — the people who helped build your country, ready to work hard in exchange for a fair chance at a new life,” she said.

The decree signed by Trump was entitled: “Protection of the nation from foreign terrorist entry into the United States.”

“I am heartbroken that Syrian refugee children, who have suffered through six years of war by no fault of their own, are singled out for discrimination,” said Yousafzai.

She named a friend who had fled wars in Somalia, Yemen and Egypt to study in the United States, where she had hoped to be reunited with her sister. “Today her hope of being reunited with her precious sister dims,” she said. —

In this time of uncertainty and unrest around the world I ask President Trump not to turn his back on the world’s most defenceless children and families

Malala Yousafzai, Nobel laureate