RASC News Agency: On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, a coalition of civil society and human rights activists vehemently condemned the Taliban’s systematic linguistic discrimination in Afghanistan, calling for the preservation and protection of linguistic diversity. In a gathering held on Friday, February 21, to commemorate mother languages, these activists denounced all policies and structures that marginalize native languages under the Taliban’s rule. It is worth noting that February 21 is globally recognized as International Mother Language Day, a day dedicated to safeguarding and promoting linguistic heritage. However, since reclaiming power, the Taliban have implemented discriminatory policies, particularly targeting the Persian language.
The suppression of Persian in Afghanistan has deep historical roots, as political power in the country has long been shaped by ethnic nationalism and an institutionalized bias against Persian. Despite the Taliban’s self-professed adherence to Islamic principles, they have continued these exclusionary policies, disregarding the profound historical and religious significance of Persian the language of renowned Islamic scholars such as Imam Abu Hanifa, Imam Bukhari, and Imam Tirmidhi. This contradiction underscores a stark reality: for the Taliban, ethnic allegiance eclipses religious commitment. Their engagement with religion appears to serve primarily as a means to reinforce their ethno-nationalist agenda and uphold the ideological framework of Pashtunwali.
As a result, a vast segment of Afghanistan’s population remains deeply concerned about the Taliban’s ethnic policies and the fate of the Persian language. The Taliban have deliberately restructured Afghanistan’s political and administrative systems to favor a Pashtun-centric model, systematically erasing Persian from official institutions. This deliberate exclusion reflects a broader strategy aimed at consolidating ethnolinguistic supremacy at the expense of Afghanistan’s rich cultural and linguistic heritage.
