Malala Yousafzai urges Muslim leaders not to legitimize the Taliban

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has called on Muslim leaders to refrain from granting legitimacy to the Taliban. Speaking at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) conference on "Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities: Challenges and Opportunities," hosted in Islamabad, she urged global Islamic leaders to demonstrate true Islamic values.

According to AFP, Yousafzai criticized the Taliban’s use of cultural and religious justifications for their actions, including the ongoing ban on girls' education in Afghanistan.

She stated: “As Muslim leaders, this is your time to speak up, to use your power, to show real leadership. You can demonstrate the true essence of Islam.”

The OIC conference, aimed at addressing challenges and opportunities in girls' education within Muslim societies, began on Saturday and continues today with the participation of leaders from several Muslim-majority countries.

Pakistan’s Minister of Education previously confirmed that Taliban representatives were invited to the event but did not attend.