JURIST EXCLUSIVE – Law students and lawyers in Afghanistan are filing reports with JURIST on the situation there after the fall of Kabul to the Taliban. Here, a lawyer in Kabul offers his observations and perspective on the appointment of a BA degree-holder as the new Vice-Chancellor of Kabul University. For privacy and security reasons we are withholding our correspondent’s name and institutional affiliation. The text has been only lightly edited to respect the author’s voice.
The Ministry of Higher Education has introduced someone named Mohammad Ashraf Ghairat as the new Kabul University Vice-Chancellor. This is the highest academic position which oversees the management of the Kabul University and almost all of the academic affairs in the university and at the Ministry of Higher Education.
This man has a bachelor degree in Sharia from Kabul University and later became a Taliban member. He has no academic and professional background. He was one of the active members of the Taliban who used to comment on Taliban attacks on journalists and the imposition of restrictions on media.
In some of his tweets he supported the Taliban attacks on government officials and media by magnetic bombs.
It is reported that more than 250 university professors have left the country so far, and this appointment by the Taliban has prompted another 70 university professors to resign. The Professors Union, which is active and managed by the Ministry of Higher Education, has said in a statement that the Ministry should re-assess its decision regarding the appointment of this man.
A Taliban senior member has reacted to this appointment by saying that the Taliban only consider friendship and group relationship in their appointments, rather than technical and professional capability.