2014 Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafza has expressed sympathy with the Mexican student who interrupted last week’s medal ceremony in protest at the suspected massacre of 43 Ayotzinapa students in Guerrero.
Adan Cortes Salas, 21, ran onto the stage with a Mexican flag and repeated the words, “Please Malala, Mexico,” before security staff escorted him away.
Yet Yousafza, the youngest Nobel winner in history, said she empathized with the student’s cause. “There are problems in Mexico,” she said. “It is really important that children raise their voices.”
Yousafza also said that the incident had not frightened her. “If I don’t get scared at anything else why would I get scared of this,” she said.
Oslo police were criticized for allowing Cortes, who wasn’t on the guest list, to gain entry to the ceremony.
Cortes later claimed that he had no regrets about the incident.
“My motivation was to show solidarity with all the things that have happened in my country lately.” he said. “I am tired of so many injustices that we have suffered in Mexico.”
Cortes tried seeking political asylum in Norway, saying he feared for his life in Mexico, but his request was denied and he was deported. He was fined $U.S. 2040 for causing a public nuisance and for entering Oslo City Hall illegally.