Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and global advocate for girls’ education, delivered a powerful address at an international summit in Islamabad on Sunday, urging Muslim leaders to take a stand against systemic injustices, including the repression of women in Afghanistan, termed by the United Nations (UN) as ‘Gender Apartheid’ and the destruction of educational institutions in Gaza.
The event, hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Pakistan government, and the Muslim World League, brought together ministers and scholars from Muslim-majority countries to address the challenges facing girls’ education in Islamic nations. However, the Taliban government of Afghanistan, despite being invited, was notably absent.
Challenging Gender Apartheid in Afghanistan
Speaking to the audience, Malala called out the Taliban government in Afghanistan for its draconian policies that have erased women and girls from the public sphere. “Simply put, the Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings,” she said. “Their policies are a system of gender apartheid, punishing women and girls who dare to break their obscure laws by beating them up, detaining them, and harming them.”
Malala highlighted the Taliban’s ban on education for girls beyond grade six, calling Afghanistan the only country in the world to impose such a restriction. Since regaining power in 2021, the Taliban have barred women from secondary and higher education, leaving over 1.5 million girls without access to schooling. Even midwifery and nursing programs—long considered essential for women’s participation in healthcare—have been shut down, further narrowing educational opportunities.
The Taliban’s justification for their policies, rooted in cultural and religious claims, is at odds with Islamic teachings, Malala argued. “There is nothing Islamic about their policies. They cloak their crimes in cultural and religious justification, but they actually go against everything our faith stands for.”
Condemning the Destruction of Gaza’s Education System
Malala also turned her attention to the plight of Palestinian children in Gaza, where she said Israel’s actions had obliterated the education system. “In Gaza, Israel has decimated the entire education system. They have bombed all universities, destroyed more than 90% of schools, and indiscriminately attacked civilians sheltering in school buildings,” she said.
She emphasized the devastating impact on Palestinian children, many of whom have lost both their families and the opportunity for a better future. “A Palestinian girl cannot have the future she deserves if her school is bombed and her family is killed,” Malala said, calling on Muslim leaders to “raise your voices and use your power to oppose such injustices.”
A Personal Journey and a Global Call to Action
At 27, Malala remains a symbol of resilience and an icon for women’s rights. Her journey began in the Swat Valley of Pakistan, where she defied the Pakistan Taliban’s threats to advocate for girls’ education. In 2012, when she was 15, she was shot in the head by a Taliban gunman, an attack she miraculously survived. Her recovery took her to the United Kingdom, where she continued her activism, becoming the youngest-ever Nobel laureate at the age of 17.
Returning to her home country for the summit, Malala expressed joy and hope. “I am overwhelmed and happy to be back in Pakistan,” she said, noting that her visits have been limited since the attack.
A Broader Crisis for Girls’ Education
Malala underscored the global nature of the crisis facing girls’ education, pointing to conflicts in countries like Yemen and Sudan, where crises have “stolen the entire future of girls.” She urged the international community to “call out the worst violations” of girls’ rights and ensure that education remains a priority even in the most challenging circumstances.
Malala made an impassioned plea to Muslim leaders, calling on them to take action. “It is time for Muslim leaders to raise your voices and use your power to oppose such injustices,” she said, challenging them to address both the Taliban’s oppression of women and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Manbilas Singh is a talented writer and journalist who focuses on the finer details in every story and values integrity above everything. A self-proclaimed sleuth, he strives to expose the fine print behind seemingly mundane activities and aims to uncover the truth that is hidden from the general public. In his time away from work, he is a music aficionado and a nerd who revels in video & board games, books and Formula 1.
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