Malala calls for Taliban to release Afghan education activist Matiullah Wesa

Pakistan's youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai has appealed to the Taliban government to release education activist Matiullah Wesa.

To educate both males and females in Afghanistan, Wesa operated mobile schools and libraries. He also founded the 'Pen Path' program to reopen schools and educate girls and other members of society in the country.

While banning girls from school, the Taliban are also arresting champions of education. @matiullahwesa founded @penpath1 to provide mobile schools & libraries to Afghan girls and boys. The Taliban must release him and all those imprisoned for educating children. #FreeWessa pic.twitter.com/j52WhIJGCU
— Malala Yousafzai (@Malala) March 28, 2023

Malala herself is a survivor of an attempted assassination by the Taliban forces, who tried to kill her back in 2012. Today, she has used her platform to advocate for the freedom of Wesa, for providing education to children in Afghanistan.

The hashtag “#FreeWessa” is trending on twitter as well, with netizens calling for his release.

Matiullah Wessa, a national hero, has been detained by the #Taliban. We call upon the pragmatist in the movement to not portray themselves as enemies of #education and those who advocate for it within #Afghanistan. #FreeWessa pic.twitter.com/78Zm9dFEun
— Obaidullah Baheer (@ObaidullaBaheer) March 27, 2023

Malala’s request for Wesa's release emphasizes the ongoing struggle of girls and young women under Taliban rule in Afghanistan, who have not been allowed an education.