Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Malala Yousafzai, has called on Muslim leaders to challenge the Taliban’s oppressive policies that continue to deprive Afghan women and girls of their right to education.

Speaking at an international summit in Islamabad on Sunday, the Pakistani education activist emphasized the urgent need to confront the Taliban’s repressive treatment of women in Afghanistan. The summit, hosted by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the Pakistan government, and the Muslim World League, saw the participation of ministers and scholars from Muslim-majority countries advocating for girls' education in Islamic nations. However, the Taliban government, despite the invitation, chose not to attend.

Yousafzai, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her advocacy for children’s rights to education, expressed grave concern over the situation in Afghanistan, which has become the only country in the world where girls are completely banned from pursuing education beyond the sixth grade. In her speech, she stated, "Simply put, the Taliban in Afghanistan do not see women as human beings."

The Nobel laureate also condemned the recent ban on Afghan women training as midwives and nurses, a move that she described as a further restriction on educational opportunities. Yousafzai highlighted that around 1.5 million girls and women in Afghanistan have been denied access to education since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

Western powers have repeatedly called for changes in the Taliban’s policies towards women. Despite claims from the Taliban that they respect women’s rights in line with their interpretation of Afghan culture and Islamic law, the international community remains critical of their actions. The Taliban's policies have also included harsh restrictions on women’s ability to express themselves, such as bans on singing or reciting poetry in public.

In her remarks, Yousafzai warned that the rise of “gender apartheid” under the Taliban’s rule has set a dangerous precedent that could threaten girls' education in other countries. She pointed to ongoing crises in Afghanistan, Yemen, and Sudan as examples of how conflicts are increasingly jeopardizing the future of girls globally.

Concluding her speech, Yousafzai called on the international community and Muslim leaders to stand up for girls' right to education, emphasizing that without action, the future of millions of young girls remains at risk.