At least six leading members of Bamiyan and Daikundi universities have been removed from their posts over the past week and replaced by pro-Taliban figures, two sources said on Thursday.
Five of the dismissed officials include the deputy head of Bamiyan University, the deputy head of students’ affairs of the university, the financial and administrative manager, the human resources manager, and the dormitory manager of Bamiyan University.
According to the sources, the dismissed officials belong to Hazara ethnic group and are Shiite while the newly appointed people are pro-Taliban figures from within and outside the university.
On Oct. 9, Mohammad Zahir Fayez, the deputy head of Bamiyan University confirmed in a Facebook post he has been removed from his position.
On Oct. 7, Mohammad Reza Ibrahim, the deputy head of the university’s students’ affairs department, was dismissed from his position.
The two have been replaced by “less experienced” individuals, including a “Pashtun” and a “Sunni,” sources said.
According to the sources, the other three are the financial and administrative manager, the human resources manager, and the dormitory manager of Bamiyan University, all of whom are Hazara and Shiite.
Meanwhile, Abdul Aziz Mohibi, the former head of Bamiyan University, who had a Ph.D., was also dismissed from his position a month after the fall of Kabul last year.
The person appointed in his place, Mohammad Salem Faizi, has a lower academic degree and does not have experience in teaching and administrative affairs, two sources from the university said.
Taliban’s response
Taliban confirmed the dismissal of the officials, arguing that they have been removed based on the “Civil Higher Education Law.”
Mohammad Salem Faizi, head of the Taliban for Bamiyan University, told Amu that two university professors have been appointed instead of the deputy head of students’ affairs and the deputy head of the university.
“The term of the two officials was completed and two other professors of Bamiyan University have been appointed in their place. The deputy head of the university was in this position for four years and the deputy head of students’ affairs completed three years in the post,” he said.
Daikundi
In Daikundi province, neighboring Bamiyan, Sayed Anwar Sirat, the head of Daikundi University, was dismissed from his post on Wednesday (Oct. 12) and Mohammad Nasir Hanzala, who is from Kandahar, was appointed in his place.
A number of professors from Bamiyan and Daikundi universities told Amu that these changes have “ethnic roots.”
This comes as the Taliban has launched a campaign on social media in the last two days titled “united Afghanistan” and claim that it has addressed the principle of ethnic diversity and inclusiveness in its administration.
