Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel laureate, has called on Muslim leaders to take a stand against the Taliban’s oppressive policies in Afghanistan, labeling their actions as “gender apartheid.”
At a Glance
- Yousafzai urged Muslim leaders not to legitimize Taliban rule in Afghanistan
- The Taliban have banned Afghan girls from attending school beyond sixth grade
- A summit on girls’ education was held in Islamabad, co-hosted by the Muslim World League
- Yousafzai criticized Israel for destroying Gaza’s education system
- Over 12 million Pakistani girls are out of school, according to Yousafzai
Malala’s Plea to Muslim Leaders
At a summit on girls’ education in Islamabad, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai made a passionate appeal to Muslim leaders worldwide, urging them to reject the Taliban’s treatment of Afghan women and girls. The summit, co-hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League, focused on addressing the challenges faced by girls in accessing education within Muslim communities.
Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban in 2012, emphasized the dire situation in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Since August 2021, the Taliban have imposed severe restrictions on women’s rights, including banning girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade and limiting women’s employment opportunities.
Taliban’s “Gender Apartheid”
The Nobel laureate did not mince words in her condemnation of the Taliban’s policies. “For the past three-and-a-half years, the Taliban have ripped away the right to learn from every Afghan girl. They have weaponized our faith to justify it,” Malala Yousafzai said.
“The Taliban are explicit about their mission. They want to eliminate women and girls from every aspect of public life and erase them from society. Simply put, the Taliban do not see women as human beings. They cloak their crimes in cultural and religious justification,” Malala Yousafzai said.
The United Nations has labeled the Taliban’s governance as “gender apartheid” due to their strict interpretation of Sharia law. Yousafzai echoed this sentiment, stating that there is nothing Islamic about the Taliban’s actions.
Yousafzai’s message to Muslim leaders was clear and direct.
“I have a message for everyone in this room. As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voice and use your power. You can show true leadership; you can show true Islam,” she said.
While focusing on the situation in Afghanistan, Yousafzai also highlighted educational challenges in other regions. She noted that over 12 million Pakistani girls are out of school, expressing concern for her home country. Additionally, Yousafzai criticized Israel for the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing it of destroying the education system by bombing universities and damaging over 90% of schools.
As the youngest Nobel laureate at age 17, Malala Yousafzai continues to advocate for children’s right to education globally. Her impassioned plea at the Islamabad summit serves as a reminder of the ongoing struggle for girls’ education in various parts of the world, particularly in regions affected by conflict and extremist ideologies.
