Malala Yousafzai Draws Parallels Between Taliban's Treatment of Women and Apartheid in Mandela Lecture

Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai compared the Taliban's treatment of women in Afghanistan to apartheid during the 21st Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in South Africa. Yousafzai, who survived an assassination attempt by the Pakistani Taliban for advocating girls' education, called the Taliban's actions "gender apartheid" and criticized international actors for normalizing relations with the group. She expressed concerns about the Taliban's impact on education and critical thinking, urging the international community to protect access to quality education for girls. Yousafzai also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of allowing children to return to school and normalcy.