Malala Yousafzai calls for Taliban accountability over crimes against women and girls

Nobel Peace Prize laureate and education activist Malala Yousafzai has urged the international community to hold the Taliban accountable for their crimes, particularly for their actions against women and girls in Afghanistan. In a video message, Yousafzai condemned the Taliban’s ban on girls' education, describing it as part of a broader "cruel and misogynistic" agenda aimed at excluding women from work, education, and public life.

She praised Afghan women and girls for their resilience and resistance, saying, "You are the real force of resistance against the Taliban. You don’t give up hope." Despite the oppressive restrictions, she noted, millions of Afghan girls are still pursuing education, even though they are barred from formal schooling.

Yousafzai reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Afghan women and girls, emphasizing that their courage is a source of inspiration globally. Since taking power in 2021, the Taliban have progressively restricted girls' access to education, banning them from schools beyond sixth grade and universities, despite widespread international calls for these bans to be lifted.