POLITICS — April 8, 2026
Taliban Higher Education Minister Reportedly Threatens Uzbek Students Over Red Hats
Sources cited by Hasht-e Subh claim Taliban Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadeem slapped and expelled Uzbek students at Kabul University for wearing traditional red "Sarpli" hats. The alleged incident took place on April 8, 2026, during a garbage collection activity in the university courtyard.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
KABUL — Sources told Hasht-e Subh that Taliban Higher Education Minister Neda Mohammad Nadeem threatened, humiliated and slapped Uzbek students at Kabul University for wearing red "Sarpli" hats.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, 19 Hoot — corresponding to April 8, 2026 — around 8 a.m. in the university's main courtyard. The students, from the Department of Uzbek Language and Literature, were collecting garbage at the time.
Nadeem reportedly claimed the red hats were associated with the Pashtun Protection Movement and Khalqis. He trampled the hats underfoot, ordered security guards to expel the students and had identity cards confiscated from some of them.
The red "Sarpli" hats are culturally significant to Afghan Uzbeks, according to the sources cited by Hasht-e Subh.
Hasht-e Subh published the report on April 8, 2026, based on accounts from unnamed sources. No independent corroboration of the incident has been reported by other outlets.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source (Hasht-e Subh) based entirely on unnamed 'sources'; no independent corroboration or on-record attribution for the minister's alleged actions, making the core event unverified.
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Hasht-e Subh: "threatened and humiliated", "slapped one of them", "trampled the students' hats underfoot" - these phrases use emotionally loaded verbs that frame the minister's actions as abusive and disrespectful, mixing reporting with mild opinion language.
Independent web corroboration
An independent web search turned up no separate corroborating reports. Treat the account as single-sourced until more outlets pick it up.
Across the newsrooms
Filed by
Hasht-e Subh
Originating
Framed
Framed
Filed under
Politics — Neda Mohammad Nadeem, Taliban, Kabul University, Uzbek students, Higher Education
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