Malala Yousafzai criticizes Western inaction on Afghan women's rights

Five years after the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, the humanitarian and social situation for women and girls remains critical. According to UNESCO, approximately 2.4 million girls in the country have been denied education beyond the primary level since the regime change.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has criticized Western nations, including Norway, for failing to prioritize women's rights, accusing them of “rolling out the red carpet for the Taliban” by focusing on other political issues like immigration and drug control. She emphasized that commitment to equality must be backed by action rather than just verbal or written promises.

Reports from the ground describe a tightening grip on social life, including the enforcement of strict moral codes by armed inspectors, bans on non-religious music, and the removal of literature written by women. The United Nations has characterized the situation as “gender apartheid,” noting that recent legislation has further weakened protections for young girls against forced marriage and human trafficking.