Calls to grant Malala Yousafzai the Nobel Peace Prize I started this petition because a Nobel Peace Prize for Malala will send a clear message that the world is watching and will support those who stand up for the right of girls to get an education. Ms Choudhary also fought for her education when she was taken out of school in the UK aged 16 and forced into a marriage in Pakistan. She escaped back to the UK, returned to education aged 28, and now runs a network in Birmingham to support women in similar situations. Malala, who is widely known as a campaigner for girls' education in Pakistan, was attacked with two other schoolgirls travelling home from school in the Swat Valley last month. The gunman who boarded the van in which she was travelling asked for her by name before firing three shots at her. In early 2009, she wrote an anonymous blog about life under the Taliban, who had banned all girls in her area from attending school. The global petition to have Malala nominated, on Change.org, was started in Canada by Tarek Fatah, a writer and broadcaster. It has already achieved support from Canada's four largest political parties and has been replicated by supporters in other countries, including France and Spain. The Nobel Committee rules states that members of national assemblies and governments are able to make nominations for the prize. Nominations close in February. Speaking on behalf of Malala Yousafzai exactly a month after she was targeted on a school bus in Pakistan, her father, Ziauddin, yesterday said she wanted to thank well-wishers for helping her to "survive and stay strong." Malala was flown to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital for specialist treatment after escaping death by inches when a bullet "grazed" her brain on Oct 9. Mr Yousafzai, his wife and their two sons flew to Britain last month to be with Malala, who was travelling home from school with two classmates when she was shot at pointblank range. In a statement issued by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Yousafzai said: "She wants me to tell everyone how grateful she is and is amazed that men, women and children from across the world are interested in her well-being. We deeply feel the heart-touching good wishes of the people across the world of all caste, colour and creed. Malala, who campaigned for the right of girls to receive an education, has received thousands of gifts, cards and messages of support since arriving in Birmingham on Oct 15. "Among the gifts have been pocket money "for sweets," CDs, school books, clothing, toys and jewellery. Whole classes of pupils have written letters and messages supporting her campaign. In his statement, issued as new pictures were released of his daughter sitting up reading a book and looking through cards, Mr Yousafzai added: "I am awfully thankful to all the peaceloving well-wishers who strongly condemn the assassination attempt on Malala, who pray for her health and support the grand cause of peace, education, freedom of thought and freedom of expression."