Uzbek Language Restored on Jawzjan University Sign After Backlash
The Taliban administration has reinstated Uzbek language on the signboard of Jawzjan University following a wave of criticism over its removal. On Thursday morning, November 19, a new sign was installed that includes Uzbek alongside Pashto.
A photo of the updated signboard shows the university’s name written in both Pashto and Uzbek. Just a week earlier, the Taliban had unilaterally removed Uzbek from the original signage.
The initial decision sparked widespread backlash from Uzbek-speaking residents and cultural activists, who viewed the move as a sign of disrespect towards local languages and cultures. Many described it as another example of the administration’s monolingual policies.
Former senator and daughter of General Abdul Rashid Dostum, Rahela Dostum, responded to the reinstatement by emphasizing that respecting linguistic and cultural diversity is a fundamental responsibility for any individual or institution in the country.
While the Taliban’s move to reintroduce Uzbek was seen as a step toward rectification, analysts say the decision came only after public pressure and does not necessarily reflect a consistent policy shift regarding linguistic minorities.
Over the past four years, the Taliban have repeatedly been accused of systematically excluding the Persian, Uzbek, and Turkmen languages from Afghanistan’s educational and administrative systems. From removing Persian-language signs to destroying cultural heritage linked to Persian-speaking poets and writers, the group’s actions have fueled concerns about linguistic and cultural discrimination.
In addition to the new signboard, Taliban Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadim visited Jawzjan and met with university students, in what is seen as an effort to ease public discontent.
