Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Sunday strongly criticised the Taliban for their treatment of women, declaring that the group “does not consider women as human beings” and has deprived Afghan girls of their right to education for over a decade.
She made these remarks during the two-day international conference, Women’s Education in Muslim Societies: Challenges and Opportunities, held at the Jinnah Convention Centre in Islamabad.
Hosted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in collaboration with the Muslim World League, the summit has brought together 150 delegations from 44 countries to address the pressing challenges in girls' education across Muslim-majority nations.
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Malala, in her address, expressed grave concerns about the state of women’s rights under the Taliban regime. “The Taliban has imposed over 100 laws restricting women’s freedoms. For the last decade, they have denied Afghan girls the basic right to education, a fundamental violation of human dignity,” she stated.
She emphasised the plight of 120 million girls worldwide who are unable to attend school, including 12.5 million in Pakistan. “Pakistani girls deserve to be part of the colors of the world. Every girl has the right to complete 12 years of education,” she remarked.
Criticism of global injustices
Malala also highlighted the destruction of Gaza’s education system due to Israeli attacks. “Israel has destroyed the entire education system in Gaza, leaving countless children without access to learning,” she said, underscoring the widespread challenges faced by children in conflict zones.
Acknowledging the role of the Muslim World League in organizing the event, she stressed the urgency of forming a united front to address the education crisis and hold governments accountable for their actions against girls.
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PM Sharif who inaugurated the conference, underscored the need to build a global network involving governments, Islamic organizations, and civil society to promote girls’ education. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary General, Hussain Brahim Taha, and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also participated in the opening ceremony.
Malala’s speech reiterated the importance of addressing the unique challenges faced by Afghan girls and called on world leaders to take firm action. “The purpose of this conference will not be fulfilled if we fail to talk about the education of Afghan girls and hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes against women and girls,” she said.
This marks Malala’s third visit to Pakistan since she was attacked by TTP militants in Swat Valley in 2012. Her last visit in 2022 focused on raising awareness about the devastating floods caused by climate change.
In her closing remarks, Malala expressed her deep connection to Pakistan. “I started my journey here, and my heart will always remain in Pakistan,” she said.
At the event, the Secretary General of the Muslim World League presented Malala with an honorary shield for her relentless advocacy for girls’ education.
