Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on Muslim leaders to oppose the Taliban’s restrictions on women and girls’ education, urging them not to “legitimise” the Afghan government’s actions. Speaking at a summit on girls’ education in Islamabad, Pakistan, the 27-year-old education activist urged Islamic leaders to use their influence and stand up for the rights of women and girls under the Taliban’s rule.
“Do not legitimise them,” Yousafzai stated during her speech at the two-day conference, which brought together education ministers and officials from Muslim-majority nations. “As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voices, use your power. You can show true leadership. You can show true Islam.”
The event, supported by the Muslim World League, focused on addressing barriers to girls’ education in Muslim-majority countries. However, Afghanistan’s Taliban government, which has imposed harsh restrictions on women since retaking power in 2021, was notably absent from the conference despite an invitation.
Since the Taliban’s return to power, they have enforced a strict interpretation of Islamic law, resulting in what the United Nations has condemned as “gender apartheid.” The policies have led to the closure of secondary schools and universities to women and girls, as well as the removal of women from many government positions, effectively excluding them from public life.
Yousafzai, who was shot by the Pakistani Taliban at the age of 15 for advocating girls’ education, condemned the Taliban’s treatment of women. “Simply put, the Taliban do not see women as human beings,” she said. “They cloak their crimes in cultural and religious justification.”
Yousafzai’s activism, which earned her the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, has made her a global symbol for women’s and girls’ education rights. She reiterated her belief that the Taliban’s mission is clear: “They want to eliminate women and girls from every aspect of public life and erase them from society.”
While there is widespread condemnation of the Taliban’s actions, international reactions have been mixed on how to engage with the regime. Some countries advocate for diplomatic isolation until the Taliban reverses its policies, while others call for engagement to encourage change.
In her speech, Yousafzai also addressed the situation in Gaza, criticising Israel for its attacks on educational institutions during the ongoing conflict. “In Gaza, Israel has decimated the entire education system,” she said, pointing to the destruction of universities and schools.
“Palestinian children have lost their lives and future,” she added. “A Palestinian girl cannot have the future she deserves if her school is bombed and her family is killed.”
