RASC News Agency: The historical experience and the previous activities of the Taliban reveal that this group does not abandon its deep-seated prejudice and ethnocentrism. Although the Taliban claim to adhere strictly to Islamic Sharia, their behavior and actions towards non-Pashtun ethnic groups are marked by “bigotry, ignorance, and un-Islamic conduct.” Recently, several citizens who visited Taliban-run courts in Kabul and other provinces to process official documents reported discriminatory treatment. According to these individuals, the Taliban-appointed judges harass non-Pashtun (Persian-speaking) applicants due to ethnic and regional differences.
They urge the Taliban to relinquish their ethnic, regional, and linguistic biases and to provide equal services and facilities to all. However, the reality is that the Taliban is a tribal, Pashtun-centric group that recognizes no other values beyond “Pashtunwali.” For this tribal group, Islam is secondary to Pashtun identity. The Taliban have repeatedly demonstrated that their mission is to Pashtunize Afghanistan rather than uphold Islamic values. Yet, to recruit non-Pashtuns into their ranks as “foot soldiers,” they use “Islam and Sharia” as a pretext.
Shakib (a pseudonym), a resident of Kapisa province, recounted his experience: “I’ve been chasing after a marriage certificate for months, but a friend of mine from Logar province applied at the same time and received his certificate within a week after his turn came up. Because he was Pashtun, he wasn’t subjected to an inquiry to verify his national ID, nor was he sent to the airport for verification. They only asked for witnesses, so I went as a witness, and he was told to return the following week to collect the marriage certificate.” In their three years of rule, the Taliban have been accused multiple times of ethnic, linguistic, and religious discrimination. Reports indicate that Tajik, Uzbek, and Hazara employees in government offices live in constant fear of being dismissed and are forced to tolerate the Taliban officials’ pretexts and excuses.
