The Taliban's Ministry of Higher Education issued a directive banning the translation of scientific works into Turkish and Uzbek, according to a report from Aamaj News. This decision specifically targets academic departments in northern Afghanistan, where there is a significant Uzbek-speaking population.
The ministry instructed language and literature departments at higher education institutions to translate foreign scientific works exclusively into Pashto and Persian. Previously, it was common for Uzbek and Turkish language and literature teachers to translate academic works into Uzbek without significant barriers.
The ban on Turkish and Uzbek translations stems from the linguistic similarities between the two languages, which allegedly makes it difficult for the Taliban to verify the accuracy of translations.
"The ban was actually because Turkish and Uzbek languages are close to each other, and the Taliban did not know enough about these languages to check whether a work was translated correctly," confirmed teachers of the Uzbek language.
This policy marks a notable shift as the Taliban's stance against Persian influences has previously led to changes in official documentation and cultural representation. All official documents have been converted to Pashto, and many works and images of Persian culture have been destroyed. This is the first clear instance of the Taliban imposing restrictions on the use of Turkish and Uzbek in academic contexts, particularly in regions predominantly inhabited by Uzbek-speaking communities.
Daryo's correspondent in Afghanistan expressed concern over the misinterpretation of this decision by most Afghan media, highlighting a gap in understanding the implications of this new policy.
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