Kabul University Student Claims Taliban Higher Education Minister Slapped Him Over Uzbek Hat

KABUL (Afghan Verified) -- A student at Kabul University studying Uzbek language and literature claims that Neda Mohammad Nadeem, Taliban minister of higher education, slapped him for wearing a traditional Uzbek hat during a university cleanup on Wednesday, 19 Hamal.

The student, named Habibullah Yaquboghlu by Afghanistan International and Hibatullah Yaqubughlu by Amu TV, said Nadeem labeled the hat as political activity. According to Afghanistan International, she linked it to Manzoor Pashteen; Amu TV reported she said it belonged to Pashtuns despite the student's cultural explanation.

Nadeem questioned students about the hats, asking if someone had ordered them to wear the items, and threw one hat to the ground before slapping the student after his explanation, the sources said.

After the incident, students' ID cards were confiscated and the student expelled, per Afghanistan International. Amu TV said they were transferred to the university presidency, had their identities registered and faced humiliating treatment.

Rahila Dostum condemned Nadeem's behavior as ugly, discriminatory and insulting. Anwar Sadat described her as a terrorist responsible for past violence in northern Afghanistan.

The Taliban Ministry of Higher Education has not responded to the claims.

Amu TV referenced prior reports of Taliban authorities removing the Uzbek language from a signboard at Jowzjan University.