Malala Yousafzai calls on Muslims to support against gender apartheid

Malala Yousafzai calls on Muslims to support against gender apartheid

Islamabad, Pakistan (Reuters) —Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai on Sunday called on Muslim leaders to work to criminalize gender apartheid in international law. At the same time, she called for the Taliban in Afghanistan to be condemned for their discrimination against women and girls.

Appeal to Muslim leaders

Speaking at a summit on girls' education in Muslim communities attended by international leaders and academics in her home country of Pakistan, Yousafzai stressed that Muslim voices must lead against the Taliban's discriminatory policies. These have prevented girls and women from attending schools and universities.

A lost generation

“In Afghanistan, an entire generation of girls is being cheated out of their future,” she said in a speech in Islamabad. “As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voice and use your power.”

The Taliban's reaction

The Taliban claim to respect women's rights according to their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law. Taliban spokesmen have not yet responded to Yousafzai's statements.

International recognition of the Taliban

Since the Taliban came to power in Afghanistan in 2021, no foreign government has officially recognized the Taliban. Diplomats have said steps toward recognition require a change in direction on women's rights.

The fight for education

Yousafzai survived an assassination attempt in 2012 when she was shot in the face by an assassin in Pakistan at the age of 15 after fighting against the Pakistani Taliban's efforts to deny girls an education.

A summit for education and equality

The summit, organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Muslim World Federation, attracted dozens of ministers and academics from Muslim-majority countries.

Demand for fundamental changes

Yousafzai called on scholars to "openly challenge and condemn" the Taliban's oppressive laws and urged political leaders to support gender apartheid as a crime against humanity in international criminal law.

The strained relations with the Taliban

The summit was held in Pakistan, which has had tense relations with the Afghan Taliban in recent months amid allegations that militant groups are using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. However, these allegations by the Taliban are vehemently denied.