Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai was spotted in Newcastle during a weekend visit with her husband Asser Malik.
Malala is a Pakistani women’s education activist who rose to global prominence in 2012 after she was shot in the head on a school bus by an armed Taliban for speaking out against their terrorist regime. She made an incredible recovery in England and has since continued her fight for the right of every child to an education, establishing the Malala Fund.
But over the weekend, the 24-year-old appeared to take some time off to enjoy the Easter bank holiday at Newcastle. Malala stayed at the Vermont Hotel in the city center with her husband Asser Malik, who is a “proud” Newcastle United supporter.
READ MORE: Alan Shearer and Rob Lee reach out after Newcastle’s iconic Black Bull pub closes and 30-year-old owner considers future
Asser, 31, tweeted a photo of himself during Newcastle’s game against Leicester on Sunday, thanking the club’s owners for having him. Asser, who works as a high performance managing director at the Pakistan Cricket Board, praised the “surreal atmosphere at St James’ Park”.
In his Tweet, he said: “I have proudly supported Newcastle United since childhood and have always been fascinated by their fanbase. Thank you club for inviting me to experience this surreal atmosphere at St James’ Park .”
Newcastle owner Mehrdad Ghodoussi replied: “It’s good to have you both with us.”
The Vermont Hotel shared a photo of the couple outside the hotel with Imran Khaliq, director of the Gainford Group, which owns the Vermont Hotel.
Imran told ChronicleLive that “Malala enjoyed her stay,” while the hotel shared their joy at having the two special guests. In a Facebook post, The Vermont said, “It was a pleasure to have Malala Yousafzai, a renowned women’s education activist and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, staying with us at Hotel Vermont during the weekend.”