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Pakistan: Global summit reaffirms Islam's support for girls’ education

January 14, 2025 at 5:18 pm

Global activist for girls’ education, Ms. Malala Yousafzai, delivered the keynote address at the Muslim World League’s initiative in Islamabad, Pakistan on 13 January 2025 [@MWLOrg_en/X]

Islam places no restrictions on girls’ education, declared Dr Mohammed Al-Issa, Secretary-General of the Muslim World League (MWL), at a landmark conference in Pakistan on Sunday. The two-day event, co-hosted by Pakistan and the MWL under the patronage of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, focused on addressing challenges and opportunities in girls’ education across Muslim communities.

“Our Islamic faith has always celebrated the education of every Muslim, both male and female, because the message of Islam was to enlighten all, regardless of gender,” Al-Issa stated, emphasising that any opposition to girls’ education stems from non-Islamic customs. He highlighted Islam’s historical legacy of women actively contributing to religious, scientific, political and economic spheres.


The summit, attended by over 150 dignitaries from 44 countries, culminated in the signing of the Islamabad Declaration for Girls’ Education, which Asharq Al-Awsat notes, draws inspiration from the MWL-issued “Charter of Makkah” and “Charter of Building Bridges between Islamic Schools of Thought and Sects.” The document reaffirms Islam’s unequivocal support for women’s education and also calls for the establishment of an international day to promote this cause.

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Prime Minister Sharif commended the MWL’s initiative, calling equal access to education for girls “one of the most pressing challenges of our time.”

The conference also saw the launch of the hashtag #GirlsEducationMatters initiative and forged partnerships with international organisations to advance women’s empowerment. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Malala Yousafzai was also in attendance and called on Muslim leaders to support efforts to classify gender apartheid as a crime under international law, particularly in Afghanistan. “Muslim voices must lead the way against the Taliban’s oppressive laws,” she said.


She also highlighted the situation of education in the Gaza Strip, saying Israeli occupation forces have “decimated the entire education system. They have bombed all universities, destroyed 90 per cent of schools and indiscriminately attacked civilians sheltering in school buildings.”

Al-Issa indirectly addressed the Taliban’s restrictions in Afghanistan, cautioning against attributing such policies to Islamic teachings. “Denying women and girls access to education is categorically incorrect,” he said, adding, “Declaring something permissible as forbidden is the greatest sin.”

Hissein Brahim Taha, secretary-general of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), expressed the organisation’s full support, stating: “Education forms the cornerstone of a strong society and represents a shared responsibility that facilitates progress and prosperity.”

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