Malala Yousafzai Condemns Taliban's Role in Women's Education at Islamabad Summit

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai addressed a gathering of Muslim leaders at a summit in Islamabad, urging them not to "legitimise" the Taliban government in Afghanistan. Holding a two-day conference focused on girls' education, Yousafzai emphasized the importance of opposing the Taliban's restrictive policies that have severely limited educational opportunities for women and girls since their return to power in 2021.

Yousafzai called upon Muslim leaders to demonstrate "true leadership" and to utilize their influence to advocate for women's rights in educational settings. She bluntly stated, “Simply put, the Taliban do not see women as human beings," criticizing the regime for cloaking its actions in cultural and religious justifications.

The summit, supported by the Muslim World League, brought together ministers and education officials from various Muslim-majority nations. Notably, delegates representing the Taliban government were absent despite receiving an invitation. The conference highlighted a growing international concern regarding the Taliban's implementation of an austere interpretation of Islamic law, which the United Nations has described as "gender apartheid."

While the global community largely condemns the Taliban's policies, opinions vary on how to engage with the regime. Some advocate for continued isolation until the Taliban reforms its stance, whereas others suggest dialogues aimed at reform. Currently, no country has officially recognized the Taliban government, although some regional players have established limited diplomatic and trade relations.

Yousafzai's activism for female education rights, which began after a near-fatal attack in 2012, continues to resonate globally as she calls for urgent action to elevate the status of women and girls in Afghanistan.