Zakir Naik Faces Backlash for Defending Taliban's Restrictions on Girls' Education
Indian preacher Zakir Naik faced criticism from Indians, Pakistanis, and Afghans after defending the Taliban's restrictions on girls' secondary and higher education in Afghanistan. Naik claimed the delays were due to security concerns and a shortage of female teachers, asserting that primary education remains available. His remarks drew backlash from activists, journalists, and academics, including Malala Yousafzai's father, who called the defense troubling. Critics also questioned Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's support for Naik, who has faced legal charges in India.
First-hand measurement across 2 sources
We measured how 2 outlets covered this story. No outlet gave this story a measurable political slant — there is no left–right reading to report. Overall sentiment is negative (26/100). Lens Score 58/100.
Outlets measured: news18, indiatoday. See how each one headlined and framed the same story in the source comparison below.
AI Analysis
Sentiment was consistent across outlets (25–28/100), indicating broadly factual reporting rather than editorialising.
Coverage timeline
indiatoday broke this story on 31 Oct, 01:01 am. Other outlets followed.