Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai criticized the Taliban government in Afghanistan as imposing “gender apartheid” and called on Muslim leaders to speak out against their repressive policies on women and girls’ education. Yousafzai spoke at a summit in Islamabad organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Muslim World League, where she described the Taliban’s treatment of women as inhumane and un-Islamic, banning girls from attending school beyond the sixth grade and women from university.
She urged Muslim leaders to recognize gender apartheid in Afghanistan as a crime against humanity and to challenge the Taliban by using their power and influence. Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban has stripped women and girls of their rights, including access to education, work, and freedom of movement and speech. Recent laws have further restricted women’s opportunities for education and independence, putting lives at risk.
Despite international condemnation, the Taliban remains adamant in their interpretation of Sharia law to guide their policies, refusing to engage with criticism. The United Nations has described the situation in Afghanistan as “gender apartheid,” with calls for stronger measures to encourage the Taliban to change course. Legal experts have advocated for codifying gender apartheid as a crime in international law to hold the Taliban accountable. Afghan representatives did not attend the summit, and the Taliban declined to comment on Yousafzai’s remarks.
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