ANKARA: A ceremony initiated by the “Doustom Foundation” was held in Ankara, the capital of Turkey, to commemorate the official recognition of the Uzbek and Turkmen languages within the Afghan Turkic-speaking community. The event was described as a symbol of cultural and linguistic resilience among Afghan Turkic speakers against the trends of erasure and marginalization within the country. The organizers of the event stated that the linguistic policies of the Taliban have weakened non-Pashto languages in education, media, and public services, and the regional official status of these languages has suffered since the fall of the Republic. Participants emphasized that political exile and migration have not obstructed the cultural and identity activities of Afghans; rather, these activities have extended beyond Afghanistan’s borders. They believe that the preservation and promotion of Uzbek and Turkmen languages is not merely a cultural issue but is intrinsically linked to social justice, political participation, and equal rights. The ceremony took place under circumstances where the Taliban had attempted to eliminate other languages, including Uzbek and Dari, from government and academic institutions during their four years of rule.
