In a video that went viral on 29 October 2026, Zakir Naik proclaimed that the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education were a ‘postponement’ rather than a ban, accusing the media of misrepresentation.
The clip instantly drew fire from a chorus of critics. Malala Yousafzai’s father called the remarks “deeply troubling and disappointing,” while Afghan MP Mariam Solaimankhil ridiculed Naik’s logic as “brilliant.”
UNICEF reports that since the Taliban regained power in September 2021, more than 2.6 million Afghan girls have been denied secondary schooling, a figure that Naik ignored in his defense.
Naik’s history of controversy is not new; he fled India in 2016 after a Dhaka café attack investigation tied a gunman to his speeches and has lived in Malaysia as a permanent resident since 2017.
For families in Afghanistan, the fallout is stark. A 13‑year‑old girl from Jalalabad, Aisha, now has to learn from a cramped home, with no teacher to guide her.
The statements have triggered formal protests from the ministries of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, each preparing a diplomatic response to the Malaysian government over Naik’s remarks.