Malala Yousafzai's father released an open letter on Saturday to the parents of some 200 Nigerian schoolgirls who were kidnapped by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram almost a year ago, according to ABC News.
In a letter released on the eve of the 300th day of the April 14 abductions, Ziauddin Yousafzai expressed solidarity with the heartbroken parents and called upon Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan to take "resolute action" to save the girls taken by Boko Haram from their boarding school in the Borno state village of Chibok.
"Seven months later, I saw not enough has been done. The world may have turned their attention away, but my daughter Malala and I will not forget you nor your children," the father wrote. "Like Malala, your children were targeted simply for being girls who love to learn."
His letter comes after Nobel Laureate Malala met with the victims' parents during a trip to Nigeria last July. The 17 year old, who was previously shot in the head by the Taliban for supporting girls' education, vowed to be an active participant in the Bring Back Our Girls campaign.
At the time, the Nigerian government faced backlash and protests for what critics called a lack of action to rescue the captives from Boko Haram, which later claimed to have sold the girls into marriage.
"Today, Malala and I call on President Goodluck Jonathan to take resolute action and increase the Nigerian government's efforts to bring your daughters home safe and alive. It is his duty and responsibility to ensure the welfare of all Nigerian citizens," Ziauddin wrote.
Boko Haram, which translates to "Western education is sinful," has launched an endless stream of attacks, kidnappings, bombings and killings since 2009 in an effort to establish strict Islamic rule in northern Nigeria.
Since then, Nigerian troops and others from neighboring Cameroon and Chad, among other West African nations, have joined the fight against the terrorist group.
