Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai called on Muslim leaders on Sunday to avoid recognizing the Taliban government in Afghanistan and to demonstrate true leadership by standing up against their policies that limit education for women and girls.

Addressing a summit on girls’ education in Muslim-majority countries in Islamabad, Pakistan’s capital, Malala firmly stated: “Don’t legitimize them.”

“Simply put, the Taliban do not see women as human beings,” she said. “They hide their crimes in cultural and religious justifications. These policies are a violation of human rights and have no basis in Islamic teachings.”

She called on Muslim leaders to demonstrate true leadership by refusing to legitimize the Taliban government. “As Muslim leaders, now is the time to raise your voice and use your power to oppose such injustices,” she added.

She strongly criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza, accusing it of dismantling the region’s education system and committing human rights abuses.

“In Gaza, Israel has decimated the entire education system,” she said during her speech. “They have bombed all universities, destroyed more than 90% of schools and indiscriminately attacked civilians sheltering in school buildings. A Palestinian girl cannot have the future she deserves if her school is bombed and her family is killed.”

The summit aimed to address challenges in girls’ education across Muslim societies and explore the role of international leadership in ensuring equal access to education. Malala vowed to continue advocating for the rights of children in conflict zones, declaring: “I will not remain silent in the face of such violations of international law and human rights.”

The ongoing crisis began on October 7, 2023, when Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in Gaza. According to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, the offensive has resulted in over 46,000 deaths.

The destruction of schools and universities has left thousands of children without access to education, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. Malala stressed the urgency of international intervention to protect the rights and future of Palestinian children.

Shot in the face by the Pakistani Taliban at the age of 15 for her education activism, Malala has become a global symbol of resilience and advocacy for girls’ education.

After recovering in the United Kingdom, she became the youngest Nobel laureate at 17. She continues to fight for equal educational opportunities worldwide with a focus on children and women in conflict zones.

Malala concluded her speech by calling for international solidarity to support education in conflict zones and end discriminatory practices against women and girls.

“Palestinian children, Afghan girls and millions of others around the world deserve a future where education is their right, not a privilege,” she said. “We must stand together to protect their dreams, their dignity and their rights.”