British-based Islamic radicals are preparing to announce a fatwa on Malala Yousafzai, the 15-year-old girl shot by the Pakistan Taliban, for her role in standing up to extremists.
The story of Malala, who is recovering at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, has touched millions of people around the world since she was attacked by a gunman on her way home from school last month.
She had dared to defy the Pakistan Taliban by promoting girls education and by documenting their abuses in a blog written in 2009.
Later this month, hardliners plan to gather at the notorious Red Mosque in Islamabad to denounce her as an apostate, accusing her of turning her back on Islam.
Anjem Choudary, who lives in East London and is one of the founders of al-Muhajiroun, which was banned in 2010, said the conference would announce the fatwa.
Although apostasy carries the death sentence according to Islamic law, he insisted he was not calling for Malala's death.
"It's not a death sentence," he said. "It's about what is the reality of what's taking place and how she is being used as a tool for propaganda by the US and Pakistan, and for the crimes they are committing."
Malala has been recovering in Birmingham for the past five weeks.
It is understood that she could spend as long as two years in the UK, undergoing surgery, rehabilitation and counselling.
Last weekend her supporters marked "Malala Day" around the world, calling for better access to education for girls.
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