Rahila Dostum: Removal of Uzbek Language an Insult to Turkic Identity.
Rahila Dostum, former senator and daughter of Abdul Rashid Dostum, has condemned the removal of the Uzbek language from the signboard of Jawzjan University, calling it a deliberate attempt by the Taliban to marginalize the Turkic identity from Afghanistan’s official institutions.
She stressed that the Uzbek language and culture will never be allowed to disappear from Afghanistan’s social fabric.
According to reports, the Taliban removed the previous university signboard, which included Uzbek, and replaced it with a new one written only in Pashto, Dari, and English.
The move has sparked widespread backlash among cultural and social activists, especially in northern Afghanistan.
In a written statement, Rahila Dostum said the removal of the previous signboard “is not merely a superficial change but a targeted effort to weaken the cultural standing of the Turkic community in the country.”
She described the act as “a clear disrespect to the people” and warned that the Turkic community in Afghanistan will never allow its language and culture to be silenced by discrimination and neglect.
