Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on Muslim leaders to take a stand against the Taliban government in Afghanistan and its repressive policies that deny girls and women access to education and work.
Speaking at an international summit on girls’ education in Islamic countries, hosted by Pakistan, Ms. Yousafzai stated:
“Simply put, the Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings.”
She emphasized that the Taliban’s actions have created a system of gender apartheid, punishing women and girls who defy their restrictive laws.
“Nothing Islamic About Taliban Policies”
Ms. Yousafzai criticized the Taliban for cloaking their oppressive policies in cultural and religious justification, stating:
“Their actions go against everything our faith stands for.”
She urged Muslim leaders to denounce the Taliban’s policies, which she said contradict the principles of Islam.
Taliban’s Policies and Global Criticism
Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban have banned girls from accessing secondary and higher education, leaving Afghanistan as the only country in the world where girls are completely barred from schooling beyond grade six.
- Over 1.5 million Afghan girls have been deliberately deprived of education.
- In December, women were also prohibited from training as midwives and nurses, closing off one of the last avenues for education.
The Taliban have promised to reopen schools after resolving “curriculum issues,” but no progress has been made.
Global Appeal for Girls’ Education
Addressing the conference in Islamabad, which included ministers and scholars from Muslim-majority countries, Ms. Yousafzai highlighted the broader threats to girls’ education worldwide:
- She condemned the destruction of Gaza’s education system by Israel.
- She pointed to crises in Yemen, Sudan, and other regions that have stolen the future of millions of girls.
She urged attendees to “call out the worst violations” of girls’ rights and advocate for education as a fundamental human right.
Taliban Absence at the Summit
The summit, co-hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Pakistan government, and the Muslim World League, extended invitations to Taliban leaders. However, they did not attend.
The Taliban government remains unrecognized by any foreign government, with Western powers insisting on reforms to women’s rights policies as a condition for recognition.
Ms. Yousafzai’s powerful address serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to combat the systemic denial of education to girls and women globally.
