Taliban Turning Universities Into Religious Schools, Says Protest Letter From Professors

A number of university professors and researchers have said in a letter of protest to the United Nations that the Taliban are seeking to turn universities into religious schools.

They claim that with the Taliban's policies, there is no room left for research, scientific and academic activities in Afghanistan.

The letter, a copy of which has been obtained by Afghanistan International, states that the Taliban has recently dismissed all professors at private universities and suspended a number of them from their jobs.

According to the letter, the Taliban has asked all professors to pass a religious exam to be re-elected in coordination with the group.

These university professors said that all the professors whose jobs have been suspended and dismissed have national and international scientific articles to their name. They said that this policy of the Taliban is in fact a continuation of the unification and transformation of universities into religious schools.

According to these university professors, the Taliban's goal is to dismiss all professors and replace them with people of their choice so that they can propagate their ideology.

The protest letter to the United Nations stressed that the Taliban's policy was "the last dagger that was stabbed in the coffin of Afghan universities".

Expressing concern over the current situation, they told the United Nations that there is no room left for research and scientific and academic activities in Afghanistan.

According to them, the Taliban has problems with modern education and educated people, and they are trying to confront them with hostility.

The university professors said that they are currently facing serious threats, including charges, endless interrogations, death threats and other dangers, and have been forced to flee the country for their safety.

These university professors said that they do not want to be forgotten and seek to continue their scientific and civil activities outside Afghanistan.

At the same time, they expressed hope that the host countries would trust their professional and academic experiences and provide opportunities to continue working abroad.

In August last year, on the third anniversary of the Taliban's takeover, the Diplomat magazine wrote in an article that the group has "reshaped" Afghanistan's higher education system and seeks to "remake" Afghan society.

In March 2024, the Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education took exams from 51,000 graduates of religious schools in the provinces to award master's degrees to those who passed the exam.