Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai expressed strong opposition on Monday to reports that the European Union intends to host Afghan Taliban representatives in Brussels for discussions on migration arrangements. She warned that such engagement could effectively legitimize a regime enforcing what she described as a system of “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan.
In a video statement, Malala said she was “shaken and deeply disturbed” by the possibility of talks involving the Taliban, a group she accused of systematically targeting women and girls. She highlighted the Taliban’s bans on girls attending secondary school, severe restrictions on women’s freedom of movement and participation in public life, as well as arrests and violence against women who defy their rules.
“The same Taliban that banned girls from secondary schools… that detains, beats, and executes women who dare to speak out,” she emphasized, referencing recent developments in Afghanistan.
Malala insisted that any European engagement with the Taliban must prioritize women’s rights at every stage of the diplomatic process. “Europe must not legitimise a regime responsible for one of the worst human rights crises in the world,” she stated, urging that dialogue with the Taliban begin and end with the protection of Afghan women and girls’ rights.
Meanwhile, the European Union has not officially confirmed the details of any such meeting in Brussels. There was also no immediate reaction from Taliban representatives regarding Malala’s comments.
