Afghan leader Abdul Rashid Dostum, leader of the National Islamic Movement of Afghanistan, accused the Taliban of seeking to obliterate the Uzbek identity and language.
This is due to the removal of the Uzbek text from the sign of
the University of Jawzjan in the north of the country.
Dostum said in a statement he posted on his social networking site “X”:
The Taliban’s latest move represents “a blatant violation
of the linguistic and cultural diversity of Afghanistan.”
He stressed that the movement seeks to impose linguistic
and cultural hegemony that ignores other components of the Afghan people.
Collective pause
Dostum added: “Be assured that the day will come
when our people will obtain their legitimate rights.”
Our languages will no longer be removed from signs,
but will be officially recognized and honored throughout the country.”
The Uzbek leader called on local residents not
to remain silent in the face of these policies.
Calling for a collective stand to defend the cultural
and linguistic rights of non-Pashtun communities,
Especially the Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Tajiks.
A wave of anger
Especially the Uzbeks, Turkmen, and Tajiks.
He was the deputy to former President Ashraf Ghani before
the Taliban took control of the government in August 2021.
Since then, he has lived in exile, but he continues to direct sharply
critical messages at the movement’s policies.
The removal of a phrase written in Uzbek from university signs sparked
outrage among Uzbeks, who asserted that such actions
This comes as part of a series of measures through which the Taliban
are attempting to reshape Afghan national identity on a unilateral basis.
Dostum’s remarks come at a time of escalating tensions
between the Taliban and some ethnic groups.
Amid calls from within and outside the country to respect the cultural
and linguistic diversity that characterizes Afghanistan.
