A devastating day Malala Yousafzai reacts to Taliban's ban on education

Pakistani activist for female education and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai spoke on the issue of Afghan girls being denied education, calling it a “devastating day for Afghan girls and for us.”

Yousafzai — who survived an attack by the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) in 2012 — told BBC: “Most of us were sceptical when the Taliban made a promise that they will allow girls to go to school."

She added that “the Taliban will continue to make excuses to prevent girls from learning.”

She pointed out that a similar ban took place in 1996 and now in 2022.

The 24-year-old said the Taliban will use repeated excuses like “uniform, walking to school, separation, segregated classrooms and female teachers”.

Yousafzai went on to criticise the Taliban government and said: “Afghanistan the Taliban are envisioning is the one where girls do not receive their education.”

She said that Afghanistan where women are held back from education will not see peace and progress.

In a separate tweet, Yousafzai said the Taliban did not keep their promise as they are “afraid of educated girls and empowered women.”

In this regard, the United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that education is a human right. Condemning the decision, Blinken said: "United States rejects the Taliban’s excuses for reversing their commitment to the people of Afghanistan."