Malala Yousafzai Denounces Taliban’s Treatment of Women, Urges Muslim Leaders to Act

Malala Yousafzai has condemned the Taliban’s oppressive policies towards women and girls in Afghanistan, calling their actions “inhuman” during a summit on girls’ education in Islamic countries. Speaking to an international gathering in Pakistan, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate stated, “The Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings,” and denounced their denial of education and work opportunities for women.

Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban for advocating for girls’ education, told Muslim leaders there was “nothing Islamic” about the Taliban’s treatment of women. She described their regime as a form of "gender apartheid," highlighting the brutal punishments faced by women who defy their harsh laws.

Malala Yousafzai speaks at a summit on girls' education in Muslim communities in Pakistan.

The 27-year-old advocate, making a rare visit to Pakistan, expressed pride in returning to her homeland and emphasized the importance of challenging the Taliban’s actions. She called on Muslim leaders to speak out against the Taliban’s repressive policies, which have led to Afghanistan becoming the only country where women and girls are entirely banned from accessing secondary and higher education.

Yousafzai also criticized the Taliban’s attempts to justify their actions through religious and cultural rhetoric, stating that their policies go against the core values of Islam. While the Taliban government did not respond to her remarks, they have previously claimed that their policies align with Afghan culture and Islamic law.

The summit, attended by ministers and scholars from Muslim-majority nations, addressed the urgent need to support girls' education globally. Yousafzai also voiced concerns over the challenges faced by girls in conflict zones such as Gaza, Yemen, and Sudan, urging leaders to take action to protect their right to education.

Since the Taliban regained power in 2021, no country has officially recognized their government, and many nations have criticized their policies towards women. With one and a half million Afghan girls currently deprived of education, the Taliban’s promise to reopen schools for girls remains unfulfilled.