The All Pakistan Private Schools Federation (APPSP) has released an anti-Malala documentary titled ‘I am not Malala’ to celebrate ‘I am not Malala Day’.

The documentary was released in response to Malala’s recent comments about marriage in the British Vogue. Malala stated, “I still don't understand why people have to get married. If you want to have a person in your life, why do you have to sign marriage papers, why can't it just be a partnership?”. Her comments sparked an outrage across Pakistan earlier and have resulted in the APPSF launching an anti-Malala documentary.

The APPSF represents over 200,000 schools all over Pakistan. In a press conference, their president, Kashif Mirza, called Malala’s comments the “promotion of Western values” and insisted that Malala was part of a “conspiracy” to impose those values in Pakistan. He brought up various things Malala has said over the years but mainly focused on Malala’s statements regarding marriage.

Mirza declared July 12th as a ‘black day’ saying, “We mark this day, July 12, as a black day and in our schools, we are teaching our students to shun the ideology of Malala.” The federation’s press release stated Malala had “categorically rejected the institution of marriage and suggested that 'partnership' is better than getting married".

According to Mirza, the documentary is meant to “educate” over 20 million students across Pakistan. He stressed that Malala’s comments were incorrect because marriage is Sunna and “partnership is adultery.”

Mirza also stated that Malala had fallen into the trap of the West and was being controlled by Western forces. He said that her book “I am Malala” was “written on the behest of Western forces who have used Malala for their ulterior motives and it is clear she is playing [into] their hands.” Mirza has decided that Pakistanis “would never want their children to follow in the footsteps of Malala.”

In 2013, the APPSF banned Malala’s book from their schools, claiming that it disrespected Islam and represents the West, not Pakistan.