Malala Yousafzai’s brother on 20th birthday card: You’re an amazing sister but please follow me on Twitter

Malala Yousafzai looks on during a press conference at the Library of Birmingham after being announced as a recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, on October 10, 2014 in Birmingham, England.

By Fiza Pirani

July 14, 2017

Pakistani activist and girls education advocate Malala Yousafzai celebrated her 20th birthday Wednesday at a carnival in Iraq, sharing cotton candy and riding bumper cars with young girls forced out of school by violence.

Malala spent her birthday in Iraq sharing cotton candy and riding the ferris wheel with girls forced out of school by violence in Mosul and other towns. She arrived just as the government declared victory in Mosul. “Fighting in the streets may be over, but our fight for girls continues,” she says. #girlpowertrip (

📸: @malinfezehai) Link in bio.

A post shared by Malala Fund (@malalafund) on Jul 12, 2017 at 9:29am PDT

Birthday wishes from admirers, including former first lady Michelle Obama, actor Matthew Modine, former Vice President Joe Biden and several others poured in, thanking the Nobel Peace Prize winner, who only joined Twitter last week, for her “remarkable spirit and powerful work.”

Happy Birthday, @Malala! Your courage inspires us all to keep fighting for girls everywhere to get the education they deserve. pic.twitter.com/oTXwRWL1mU
— Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) July 12, 2017

But while Yousafzai’s younger brother, Khushal, recognizes just how amazing his sister is, his birthday card offered some wise advice. “To become great like me, you have to follow my ways,” he wrote. “So follow me on Twitter.”

My brother's birthday card to me. Ok, I will follow you @Khushal_KY - but just for today. Make it count!

😏 pic.twitter.com/A2yk2mOGgq— Malala (@Malala) July 14, 2017

Yousafzai shared her brother’s birthday card on Twitter, promising to follow him back (at least for today), giving her Twitter followers a good laugh.

Amazing. That's how you know your brother loves you. When even a Nobel Prize doesn't change anything!!!

😂😂😂— Nicki (@nickiknowsnada) July 14, 2017

"Just for today" Lovely.
— Spits (@CallMeSpits) July 14, 2017

Yousafzai has always joked about her relationship with her younger brothers Khushal and Atal.

At the Forbes Under 30 Summit in 2014, Yousafzai is asked if her brothers, who she said love teasing and annoying her, are living with her, to which she responded, "Yes, they are unfortunately with us."

Hey, that’s what siblings are for.

Watch the interview below: