Beyond-brave Pakistani teenager Malala Yousafzai, who was shot last year by the Taliban for her education activism, was hyped as a “favorite” to win the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize, leaving some disappointed in the actual results this morning. The award went instead to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) “for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons,” including the ongoing disarmament mission in Syria. Malala and OPCW, the 22nd organization to win the prize, were among a record 259 candidates for the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s prize.
In the age of Twitter and instant backlash, though, the group immediately got a bit defensive.
They may have had some reason to, as a swell of Malala support rose right away:
The committee responded to those who said OPCW received the prize for work it had not yet accomplished:
And nodded to the opposition:
Her story could not be more inspirational, prize or no prize, and it’s worth remembering: She’s only 16. There’s still time.
