Contradicting widespread reports, Zakir Naik claimed that Afghan girls still access primary education up to Standard 6 and that higher education is simply awaiting secure conditions. Ziauddin Yousafzai, father of Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, condemned this defense, warning that portraying an indefinite restriction as a delay excuses discriminatory policies. Afghan parliament-in-exile member Mariam Solaimankhil also dismissed Naik's points by highlighting that the Taliban has banned the very female teachers needed for his proposed educational conditions. Naik, who faces charges under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, continues to draw international scrutiny for his statements.
Key points
High-profile critics strongly pushed back against attempts to downplay the Taliban's swee…: High-profile critics strongly pushed back against attempts to downplay the Taliban's sweeping restrictions on women's education.
Excusing the lack of female instructors ignores the reality that the regime itself bans t…: Excusing the lack of female instructors ignores the reality that the regime itself bans those educators from their jobs.
The fugitive preacher continues to generate fierce controversy over his commentary while…: The fugitive preacher continues to generate fierce controversy over his commentary while facing terror-linked charges under Indian law.
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NEW DELHI: Fugitive Islamic preacher
Zakir Naik was criticised for defending access to education for women under Afghanistan's Taliban regime, which has notoriously restricted the equal rights of Afghan women.
Naik, booked under India's stringent UAPA for terror-linked activities, said: "Everything that comes in the media is not true. The spokesperson of the Taliban said the situation there (in Afghanistan) is not very safe for women."
The fugitive preacher said a Taliban ambassador assured him lesser restrictions when "safety is secured".
"As far as I checked with the ambassador of the Taliban, they have women's education at all levels till Standard 6. So primary education is there for all females. Only higher education, because the environment is not safe, they are waiting until safety is secured," he said.
Zakir Naik said that claims around Afghan women being denied higher education were "wrong and a misinformation".
"All the other aspects of Islamic education, whether it be Quran or Sharia or PhD, they even have Sharia teachers. They may not have certain higher education of the Western world.
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