The Ministry of Higher Education, under Taliban control, has instructed all universities in the country to purge their libraries of books from the republic era and replace them with the book “Seerat”, or the prophetic biography. A copy of the ministry’s letter has been made available to the Hasht-e Subh Daily, revealing that the letter explicitly mentions books from Salafis, Tahriris, Shiites, and political opponents of the republic era. The acting head of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban has ordered that before the purge, the list of books should be shared with him. This directive comes amid the prevention of approximately 500 male students from traveling to Russia. The acting head of the Ministry of Higher Education of the Taliban, told the students, “You go as Muslims and come back as Communists.” This Taliban official continues to assert that a Taliban member’s academic rank should be calculated based on the number of mines he has implemented over the past twenty years.
The Ministry of Higher Education, now under Taliban control, has issued a directive to purge educational institutions of books and enforce the employment of religious leaders and preachers. A copy of the ministry’s letter, obtained by the Hasht-e Subh Daily, reveals that all universities in the country are obligated to implement this decree.
According to the Ministry of Higher Education’s letter under Taliban control, it stipulates that all universities must eliminate books related to Salafis, Tahriris, Shiites, previous political party affiliations, and the republic era, replacing them with books on “Seerat” (biography of the Prophet of Islam).
In a letter dated November 12, 2023, signed by Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the acting head of the Taliban Ministry of Higher Education, and issued in Pashto, it is stated: “All Emirati [Taliban] universities are directed to purge their libraries, collecting materials related to Salafis, Tahriris, Shiites, previous political party affiliates, and opponents of the republic, and replace them with reputable Seerat books.”
The Taliban’s acting head has instructed the Ministry of Higher Education to share the list of books with him before their replacement. This comes as the newly appointed chairman of the Taliban for Takhār University has also ordered not to use the Persian terms “Danishgah” for University and “Danishkada” for “faculty.”
Kamal al-Din Munib, the newly appointed head of the Taliban for Takhar University, has characterized Persian terms as foreign expressions, while, paradoxically, using English words and phrases in his letter without deeming them foreign.
In the text of this letter, it is stated: “All managing offices are directed not to use foreign terms such as ‘Danishgah,’ Danishkada,’ etc., from now on. Avoid using foreign sentences and terminologies in the transcriptions, diplomas, certificates, etc., as they weaken our national culture.”
The extensive prohibitions imposed by the Ministry of Higher Education and changes to the academic curriculum have raised significant concerns among students and university professors. Many university professors have resigned from their teaching positions, citing what they describe as the Taliban’s coercive measures and ethnic confrontations.
In the latest development, Dr. Ahmad Shoaib Muslimyar, a faculty member at the Faculty of Education at Samangan University, has resigned due to the strict constraints imposed by the Taliban on academic staff and their opposition to the Persian terms “Danishgah,” used for university, “Pozhohish,” used for research, and “Azmaishgah” used for laboratory. Mr. Muslimyar stated that the Taliban’s restrictions have undermined the academic freedom of the university, and the authoritarian approach of this group to the academic system was unacceptable to him.
Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the acting head of the Ministry of Higher Education under Taliban control, has consistently maintained an ideological perspective on universities. He has stated that the academic rank of the Taliban should be calculated based on the number of mines they have worked in the past 20 years. In a speech at Herat University, he remarked that testing Taliban members for academic rankings is a “disrespect to scholars.”
In a recent address, this Taliban official asserted that members of the Jamiat Eslah Afghanistan, Hizb ut-Tahrir, Democrats, and foreigners have no place in universities, emphasizing that if such individuals are discovered in educational institutions, they will face “punishment.”
Neda Mohammad Nadeem, reportedly considered a key figure and close associate of Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of the Taliban, has consistently sought to propagate extremist views and Talibanize universities during his tenure at the Ministry of Higher Education. It is claimed that he has been instrumental in promoting radical ideologies. Previously, he opposed sending girls to schools “in a Western style,” considering it contrary to “Islamism and Afghanism.” Furthermore, he criticized the encouragement of women’s education by Amanullah Khan, the former king of Afghanistan, as “introducing vulgarity and obscenity.”
This Taliban official has consistently expressed negative views regarding the state of universities in the educational system. During his tenure as the head of higher education affairs, he has endeavored to transform universities into centers for the promotion of Taliban ideology. In a speech in the province of Badakhshan, Nadeem stated that with his arrival at the Ministry of Higher Education, the distinction between the university and Madrasa has been eliminated.
Neda Mohammad Nadeem, the acting head of the Ministry of Higher Education under Taliban control, has presented controversial perspectives during his provincial visits. At Baghlan University, he asserted that the rights of men and women are not equal. Nadeem added, “Allah has made a distinction between men and women. The man, being what he is, is the ruler, has authority, and must be obeyed, and the woman must accept his words. A woman is not equal to a man, but now they are elevating her above the man.” He further stated that religious scholars recruited in universities should teach not only religious matters but also political and legal subjects beyond Sharia.
The Ministry of Higher Education under Taliban management has previously announced that in each public university, a mosque preacher (Mullah Imam) and a religious preacher (Muballigh) have been employed to instill strong beliefs and readings to the instructors. Over the past two years, the Taliban have established Sharia faculties in 17 public universities, expanding the Islamic culture curriculum in universities from 8 to 24 credit hours.
With the Taliban’s control over Afghanistan, the group has declared the nullification of all laws of the previous government. In a meeting with professors and staff of universities in the eastern region of the country, Nadeem stated that laws and regulations related to higher education by the previous government have been canceled. He added, “The principles and regulations of the previous system are completely nullified. Acting upon them is neither permissible nor appropriate, and we do not consider it permissible.” However, the group has not established specific laws for higher education, leaving it unclear under which regulations the education system is being managed.
Over the past two years, the Taliban have implemented extensive changes in the country’s educational institutions. These changes include the prohibition of education for girls and women, the confinement of female instructors to their homes, the removal of specialized subjects from fields of study, the addition of religious subjects, the establishment of a supervisory department, the Islamization of university curricula, and the introduction of a department for promoting virtue and preventing vice within universities. The group has also announced the modification of 22 academic disciplines in the country’s scientific institutions.
