Malala Yousafzai delivers a keynote speech at the Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities conference, emphasizing the global responsibility to ensure schooling for girls.
Islamabad Conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities Stresses Equal Access, Addresses Challenges in Afghanistan
Islamabad, Pakistan- An international conference titled “Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities” concluded in Islamabad this week. The gathering drew senior Islamic scholars, government representatives, international organizations, and education activists from around the world. While the gathering focused on broad efforts to advance educational opportunities for girls in Muslim societies, many discussions addressed the continuing restrictions faced by Afghan girls under Taliban rule in Afghanistan.
Organized with the support of the Government of Pakistan and the Muslim World League (MWL), the two-day conference brought together participants from 44 Islamic countries and multiple global organizations. Among the speakers were Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the MWL, and Ms. Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and global education advocate.
Attendees from across the Muslim world and beyond join the conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities, organized by the Muslim World League with support from the Government of Pakistan.
Unanimous Support for Girls’ Education
During a key session, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa reiterated that Islam supports girls’ right to seek knowledge. He highlighted the consensus among religious scholars, Fiqh councils, and Sharia bodies that this right is grounded in Islamic teachings.
“If someone objects to women’s education, they must not attribute that to religion,”
he said, noting that Islam never bans girls or women from learning.
Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, addresses the audience at the Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities conference in Islamabad, highlighting the universal Islamic obligation to seek knowledge and stressing the importance of access to education for women.
He elaborated that such a right “is granted to women just as it is to men, without restrictions on age, level, or field of study, provided it adheres to the legal framework and respects the nature with which Allah has honored women.” Referring to debates over whether women should pursue fields such as medicine, Dr. Al-Issa warned against narrow interpretations that limit opportunities for women.
“We must remember that preventing access to what is already lawful can be more harmful than mistakenly permitting what is unlawful.”
He added.
Sheikh Al-Issa also stated that the conference’s resolutions are intended to go beyond symbolic declarations and seek practical steps to strengthen girls’ education. “Our conclusion is universal, covering institutions, both public and private, as well as Muslim minorities living outside Muslim-majority nations,” he said.
On behalf of senior scholars and education officials, Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, honors Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai for her advocacy on girls’ education.
Malala Yousafzai: ‘Do Not Grant Legitimacy to the Taliban’
Ms. Malala Yousafzai delivered a keynote address criticizing the Taliban’s ban on secondary and higher education for Afghan girls.
“If I put it simply, the Taliban do not see women as human,”
she commented. “They hide these injustices behind cultural and religious claims.”
She called on Islamic scholars and global leaders to stand with Afghan girls, urging them not to recognize or legitimize any authority that restricts women’s fundamental rights.
“It’s time for you, as leaders in the Muslim world, to speak up and use your power. You can display the real face of Islam,”
Malala said.
UNAMA: ‘Dialogue at All Levels Is Required’
Ms. Roza Otunbayeva, the UN Special Representative for Afghanistan, also addressed the gathering. Stressing that the issue of women’s and girls’ access to education in Afghanistan is “not one-dimensional,” she argued that any lasting solution demands inclusive dialogue:
“This challenge requires discussion at all levels,”
Otunbayeva stated, emphasizing the need for engagement with local communities, clerics, educators, and decision-makers.
Her remarks reinforced the United Nations’ long-standing position that banning women from education compromises Afghanistan’s future. UNAMA has repeatedly called for the reopening of secondary schools and universities for Afghan girls, warning of long-term societal and economic repercussions.
Lieutenant General Dr. Nigar Johar Khan, the first woman to attain the rank of lieutenant general in the Pakistan Army, speaks at the conference launching the Muslim World League’s initiative for #GirlsEducationMatters in Muslim Communities, held in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. “Designating women’s education as a national policy priority necessitates increasing funding and financial resources allocated to this issue,” she said.
No Taliban Representation
Although Pakistani officials stated that the Taliban were invited, no delegates from the Afghan caretaker government attended. According to Pakistan’s Minister of Education, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Kabul has not responded yet.
Some Afghan women’s rights activists, however, were skeptical about the effectiveness of the conference without direct Taliban engagement or formal representation of Afghan women themselves. Yelda Bazwan, a former education attaché for the Afghan Ministry of Education, expressed doubts:
“I do not consider this event impactful because no Afghan women’s representatives attended. Moreover, it’s happening in a place where Afghan women themselves face frequent hurdles and, at times, harsh treatment.”
Delegates from across the Muslim world and beyond assemble at the Islamabad conference focused on expanding opportunities for girls’ education.
Controversy Over Conference Goals
Outside voices, including Zalmay Khalilzad, former U.S. envoy for Afghan peace talks, questioned the motives behind the gathering. He suggested the event served more as a “propaganda effort” than a genuine forum for addressing Afghan women’s rights. However, he repeated his stance that any ban on girls’ education runs contrary to Islam and Afghanistan’s national interests.
Despite these criticisms, participants from across the Islamic world reaffirmed their collective commitment to promoting girls’ education. They reiterated that there is no basis in Islamic Sharia for denying education to women and emphasized that knowledge is an obligation for all Muslims—male and female alike.
Looking Ahead
As the conference drew close, the host government and organizers hailed it as a “landmark gathering” that projects a unified Islamic voice supporting women’s right to learn. A concluding statement promised follow-up initiatives, including capacity-building programs for educators, broader engagement with local communities, and sustained advocacy at diplomatic levels.
Participants from various countries listen to speakers at the Islamabad conference on Girls’ Education in Muslim Communities, underscoring the importance of equal access to education for girls.
Whether these declarations will translate into tangible change, particularly in Afghanistan, remains to be seen. Yet the strong statements from eminent clerics, global activists, and international representatives have made it clear: the world’s Islamic and educational leadership is unwilling to remain silent in the face of bans on girls’ education.
Dawood Imtiaz is a journalist with a deep understanding of the complex dynamics shaping the region along the Durand Line. He specializes in covering developments on both sides of the border, offering critical insights into the political, social, and security landscapes. Dawood is also an expert on the geopolitical relationships between Pakistan, India, and their evolving ties with Afghanistan and Central Asia. His work for Yaraan highlights the intricate connections influencing the region, providing readers with clear, factual, and thought-provoking analysis.
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