Johannesburg, In a compelling address during the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai drew attention to the dire situation faced by women in Afghanistan under Taliban rule. Surviving a targeted attack by the Pakistani Taliban in 2012 for advocating girls’ education, Malala likened the Taliban’s treatment of women to apartheid.
During her speech, Malala highlighted the severe restrictions imposed by the Taliban, emphasizing that girls in Afghanistan have limited educational opportunities, cannot attend secondary schools or universities, and lack access to open libraries. She painted a poignant picture of the challenges faced by Afghan women, witnessing their mothers and older sisters confined and constrained.
Drawing parallels to apartheid, Malala labeled the Taliban’s actions as “gender apartheid” and asserted that they have, in effect, made “girlhood illegal.” Expressing deep concern, she predicted that the Taliban might extend their suppression beyond girls, potentially curbing sciences and critical thinking even in boys.
In a plea to the international community, Malala urged against normalizing relations with the Taliban. She stressed the importance of not only protecting access to education for girls but also ensuring that it is of high quality and free from indoctrination. Malala’s powerful speech serves as a call to action against the oppressive policies imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.
