During the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai drew parallels between the Taliban's restrictions on women in Afghanistan and the apartheid's treatment of Black people. Yousafzai highlighted the grim reality faced by girls in Afghanistan under Taliban rule, emphasizing the denial of education and freedom.
Surviving an assassination attempt at 15 for advocating girls' education in Pakistan, Yousafzai has been a global advocate for education rights. Labeling the Taliban's actions as "gender apartheid," she condemned the curtailment of girlhood, urging the international community not to normalize relations with the Taliban.
Since reclaiming power in 2021, the Taliban has imposed severe restrictions, preventing Afghan women from working in aid agencies, closing beauty salons, restricting women's access to public spaces, and enforcing male guardianship for female travel.
Expressing concern beyond girls' education, Yousafzai apprehended the Taliban's potential suppression of sciences and critical thinking even among boys, urging the international community to safeguard not only access to education for girls but also its quality, emphasizing the need to prevent indoctrination.
In addition to her stance on education, Yousafzai also addressed the ongoing conflict, advocating for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza to restore normalcy and educational opportunities for children impacted by war.
