Several Kabul University employees complain of what they describe as “biased and discriminatory treatment” by the Taliban toward the university’s staff. They say the Taliban discriminate between employees of the former government and those hired after the group came to power, and treat former employees with contempt. According to these employees, several individuals who previously held managerial and higher positions were reassigned to lower posts, and their salaries and benefits were reduced as well. They say that, despite these conditions and widespread unemployment and economic hardship, they have no choice but to continue working.
These employees, speaking with the Hasht-e Subh Daily, further claim that a few weeks ago the Taliban dismissed around 115 professional staff members of Kabul University from their positions, citing “downsizing” as the pretext.
Nematullah (pseudonym), one of Kabul University’s employees, criticizes the way the Taliban treat staff who previously worked under the former government and are still employed at the university. He says the Taliban treat these employees in a discriminatory manner and view them with contempt. He states: “The Taliban’s treatment of employees from the republic era is not appropriate. They look down on us and have repeatedly subjected us to insults and humiliation.”
Nematullah adds: “Several employees who previously worked in directorate-level positions have now been assigned to lower posts and field duties. Nevertheless, due to unemployment and economic hardship, they have no choice but to continue working. In addition, there are disparities among employees in terms of salary and benefits, with individuals affiliated with the Taliban receiving greater privileges.”
Rafi (pseudonym), one of Kabul University’s professors, also expresses concern over the Taliban’s treatment of the university’s faculty. According to him, the Taliban have dismissed several professors from the republic era and replaced them with individuals of their own choosing. He says: “The Taliban dismissed several professors under the pretext of downsizing and, in their place, hired individuals affiliated with themselves, particularly in the faculties of Sharia and Islamic studies.”
This Kabul University professor adds: “Nearly 98 percent of those who were dismissed were experienced and specialized staff. These individuals now face poverty, unemployment, and livelihood difficulties, and many of them have developed depression and other psychological problems.”
Ahmad (pseudonym), a former professor at Kabul University who says he was forced to resign as a result of the Taliban’s humiliating treatment, says that despite difficult economic conditions, he continued teaching for some time after the Taliban came to power, but sustaining this situation eventually became impossible for him.
This former professor says: “I was a professor at Kabul University for several years. After the Taliban came to power, I continued working because of the widespread unemployment, since despite holding a master’s degree, I could not resort to pushing a handcart or street vending to make a living. But over time, the Taliban’s treatment of professors who remained from the republic era grew worse by the day.” According to him, the humiliating treatment, reduced job benefits, and unsuitable working conditions placed tremendous psychological pressure on him.
Ahmad adds: “Taliban members treated us with contempt and reduced our benefits. When I saw that, despite my level of education, I was receiving a lower salary while also facing inappropriate treatment every day, I suffered severe emotional harm, and this situation wore me down further each day.” According to him, he ultimately resigned from his position because of these conditions. He says: “Now, despite unemployment and economic hardship, at least I am not forced to endure the insults and humiliation of people who, in terms of knowledge and level of education, I consider to be beneath me.”
This comes as sources at Kabul University’s Faculty of Language and Literature had previously claimed that several Taliban officials and members, despite not attending classes, are marked present by certain professors and ultimately graduate from the faculty with excellent grades.
These sources had said that the cooperation of some faculty professors in the master’s program with Taliban officials and members, in recording their attendance and ensuring their unconditional success, has exposed the faculty’s academic and educational environment to discrimination and injustice.
You can read the Persian version of this report here:
شکایت کارمندان دانشگاه کابل از تبعیض طالبان؛ «کارمندان پیشین با دید تحقیرآمیز نگریسته میشوند»
