Islamabad: Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai has expressed grave concern over the education crisis for girls worldwide, revealing that 120 million girls globally and 12.5 million in Pakistan are out of school. Speaking at a two-day international conference on "Girls' Education in Muslim Societies: Challenges and Opportunities" in Islamabad, Malala highlighted the devastation of Gaza's education system and the dire situation for women in Afghanistan.
Malala thanked the Muslim World League for organizing the event, stating, "I began my journey in Pakistan, and my heart always remains here." She emphasized that the first revelation to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) underscores the importance of learning as the foundation of Islam, urging both men and women to strive for empowerment through education.
Addressing the destruction in Gaza, Malala lamented that Palestinian children have lost their future due to the complete destruction of schools and 90% of universities. "A Palestinian girl cannot shape her future if she cannot attend school," she said.
Turning to Afghanistan, Malala condemned the systemic denial of education and basic rights for women, citing over 100 legislations by the government aimed at restricting women's freedoms. "Crimes against women are often justified in the name of culture and religion, but it is clear that banning women's education is not Islamic," she asserted.
Malala stressed the importance of Pakistani girls playing their part in shaping the world, asserting that every girl has the right to 12 years of schooling. She lauded figures like Aisha (RA) and Fatima Jinnah as beacons of inspiration, highlighting their contributions to education, freedom, and justice.
The Nobel laureate also emphasized the critical role of women in economic growth, equal to that of men. "Most governments neglect girls' education, yet today we see growing attention to this issue. If we ignore these crises, we fail to uphold Islam's foundational teachings," she remarked.
Malala called on Muslim leaders to present the true, positive image of Islam and raise their voices against crimes against humanity. At the event, she was honored with an award by the Muslim World League in recognition of her efforts to promote girls' education globally.
