Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 02:59am on 31 Oct 2026,Saturday International
Islamic preacher Zakir Naik has faced widespread criticism from Indians, Pakistanis and Afghans after defending the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education in Afghanistan. Naik claimed the restrictions were temporary, citing security concerns and a shortage of female teachers. He also argued that Afghan women could pursue advanced Islamic studies, including master's degrees and PhDs. However, his statements contradict UN findings that millions of Afghan girls remain excluded from secondary and higher education. Malala Yousafzai’s father, Ziauddin Yousafzai, and several academics and activists condemned his remarks, questioning his justification of the restrictions.
